La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's basketball team earned its fourth straight win with a 71-56 victory over UW-Platteville Saturday afternoon in Mitchell Hall.  The Eagles improve ot 10-7 overall and 4-2 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) while the Pioneers drop to 6-11 overall and 2-4 in the conference.  It is UWL's second win in the last seven meetings with UW-Platteville. 

"I am so proud of our team," said UWL head coach Karen Middleton.  "We knew UW-Platteville was playing well and had great guard play as well as a tremendous post presence.  Our defense really stepped up again and we had balance scoring on the offensive end."

The first quarter featured five lead changes before UW-Platteville took a 20-16 lead at the end of the first 10 minutes. The Pioneers led 26-22 with 5:47 remaining in the second quarter, but the Eagles used a 13-0 run to end the first half to lead 35-26.  

UWL led 39-32 with 7:12 remaining in the third quarter when a Taylor Nelson three-point field goal and pair of MaKenzie Miller free throws gave the Eagles a 44-32 advantage.  UW-Platteville went on an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to 44-40, but UWL responded with an 8-0 run of its own to lead 52-40 after three quarters. 

The Pioneers cut the lead to 57-51 with 5:22 remaining in the game, but UW-Platteville could get no closer the rest of the game. UWL went on a 10-1 run to lead 67-52 with 2:08 left.

UWL shot 35.8% from the field, including 27.6% (eight-of-29) from three-point range, and 83.3% (15-of-18) at the free throw line.  Miller and Elise DeNoyer each recorded double-doubles with Miller finishing with 16 points and 13 rebounds while DeNoyer totaled 14 points and 11 rebounds.  It is Miller's fourth straight double and fifth on the season.  DeNoyer earned her sixth double-double of the year.  Alyssa Clemment had 14 points Saturday, going four-of-nine from three-point range.  Delaney Schoenenberger finished with 12 points.

"Alyssa hit four big three-pointers and MaKenzie and Elise were both very strong with double-doubles," said Middleton. It marks the first time two players recorded a double-double in the same game since Maggi Bishop (11 points, 11 rebounds) and Miller (19 points, 13 rebounds) in a 66-62 win over UW-Platteville February 18, 2015.

UW-Platteville shot 32.8% from the field, including 27.8% (five-of-18) from three-point range, and 44.0% (11-of-25) at the line.  Morgan Horstman led the Pioneers with 16 points while Morgan Hartman totaled 11.

"We have a challenging week ahead, but I love our effort and focus to continue to get better," said Middleton.

UWL returns to action Wednesday, January 25 at 10th-ranked UW-Oshkosh at 7 p.m.  The Eagles travel to 20th-ranked UW-Whitewater Saturday, January 28 at 3 p.m.