Even with the second half of the WIAC conference just getting underway, UW-Superior women's basketball coach Don Mulhern was fully aware of the importance of Saturday afternoon's contest with the UW-Platteville Pioneers.
After all, not only were the Yellowjackets and Pioneers tied for fourth place in the league standings, UW-Platteville was coming off an impressive road victory against UW-Stevens Point their last time out.
None of that fazed the Yellowjackets however, who started fast and lead throughout for an impressive 75-71 win over the Pioneers at Williams Fieldhouse in Platteville.
In playing of their best games of the season, UW-Superior improved to 11-6 overall and upped their conference mark to 5-4 heading into Tuesday night's non-conference home game against Northland College.
The Pioneers meanwhile dropped to 10-8 overall and 4-5 in league action.
UW-Superior got off to a fast start in the opening half, scoring the first 10 points behind eight points from Sally Linzmeier and a jumper from Britnee Blake.
The Yellowjackets further expanded the lead with 14:36 left in the opening half as Grace Kennedy scored a layup to give UW-Superior a 16-4 lead.
UW-Superior continued to maintain control for the next eight minutes, taking a 29-19 lead on a jumper by Brynn Liljander with 5:55 remaining in the opening half.
The Pioneers scored the next eight points, getting three points each from Alyssa Krajco and Rachel Cropp along with a score from Morgan Hartman to cut the deficit to 29-27 with 4:19 showing on the clock.
But the Yellowjackets came right back, going on an 8-3 run over the final 3:51 to take a 37-30 lead at the intermission after Kennedy scored as time expired in the opening stanza.
UW-Platteville made a charge early in the second half, cutting the deficit to 44-40 on a three-pointer by Stacy Clark with 15:45 remaining in regulation.
The Yellowjackets refused to wilt , upping the lead to 57-44 on a three-pointer by Allie Nelson with 12:37 left before taking their largest lead at 60-46 on a three-pointer by Deandra Vavra at the 12:12 mark.
UW-Superior maintained a comfortable advantage into the final minutes when two free throws from Cropp and a three-point play by Krajco brought the Pioneers to within 74-71 with 25 seconds remaining in the contest.
Liljander finally sealed the victory on the next possession for UW-Superior however, sinking one of two free throws to make the final 75-71.
Linzmeier led all scorers with 26 points. Liljander added 15 points while Blake finished with 10.
The Pioneers were paced by Cropp with 22 points. Krajco had 18 points while Clark finished with 17 for UW-Platteville.
Opening tipoff against the LumberJills is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday. The game can be heard live on 91.3 FM KUWS with Matt Johnson on the call.