Blue Devils notch conference win over UW-Platteville, 71-69

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MENOMONIE  (January 3, 2015) - Katelynne Folkers (Sr, Fall Creek) and Jenna Goldsmith (So, St. Anthony, Minn)  scored double-doubles, Brea Boomer (Sr, Grand Portage, Minn) added 14 points and the Blue Devils made enough free throws to take a 71-69 conference win over UW-Platteville Saturday at Johnson Fieldhouse.

Stout's free throw shooting wasn't stellar, but it was enough as the Blue Devils (4-8, 2-1 WIAC) took advantage to drain 15-of-23 charity shots in the second half. Stout finished the game shooting 19-of-30 free throws.

Neither team ever held more than a six point lead. Stout had a six point, 31-25 lead with just over three minutes remaining in the first half. The Pioneers (9-4, 2-2 WIAC) turned that into a two-point, 33-31 halftime lead, making all six of their free throws in the final two minutes of the half and keeping Stout quiet to end the first stanza. Morgan Hartman drained four shots and Stacy Clark dropped in a pair. Alyssa Krajco added a jumper to account for Platteviille's 8-0 run to close the half.

The Pioneers built up a six point, 43-37, lead att 14:17 of the second half. Stout chipped away and tied the game at 48-48 on Kyleigh Hebert's free throws at 10:17.

Stout would take the lead, 52-51, on a three-point play by Folkers. Stephanie Kastens (Jr, Wausau) gave Stout a 54-51 lead. The Pioneers tied the game moments later on a free throw by Rachel Cropp and a jumper by Hartman. Folkers hit a free throw at 6:41 to give Stout a lead they would not give up. Back-to-back buckets by Caitlin Coombs (Sr, Wabasha, Minn) and Boomer pushed the score out to 60-54. The Pioneers cut the lead to 60-59, but Stout built it back up, only to see Platteville pull to within striking range several times.

Haley Froehlich (Sr, Mondovi) hit a free throw with 26 seconds left to give Stout a 69-63 lead. Hartman cut the lead in half with a 3-pointers seconds later. Becca Smith drained to free throws with 11 seconds remaining for a 71-66 lead.  The Pioneers' Keeley Schulz hit a 3-pointer just before the buzzer for the final score.

Folkers matched Boomer with 14 points and had 10 rebounds. Goldsmith scored 13 points and pulled down a career-high 14 boards. Stout held a 48-38 advantage off the glass.

The Pioneers had four players score in double figures, led by Rachel Cropp with 18. Schulz and Hartman each scored 11 points and Stacy Clark had 10. Alyssa Krajco, the conference's leading scorer, was held to six points before fouling out with six minutes remaining in the game.

Stout will be at UW-Eau Claire, Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 7 p.m., then return home to host UW-Whitewater, Saturday, Jan. 10 at 3 p.m.