Monster third quarter Blue Devil run shuts down Platteville

UW-Stout 99, UW-Platteville 71 | Photo Gallery | Archived Video

MENOMONIE (February 20, 2016) - UW-Stout turned up the heat in the third period of their duel against UW-Platteville. The Blue Devils' stifling defense paired with their fast break offense put Stout on a 40-15 run in the third quarter. The Blue Devils forced 12 turnovers in the third and scored 21 points off of those turnovers. This win on Senior Day sealed the regular season for the Blue Devils.

The first half was not the best played basketball for the Blue Devils; shooting only 25 percent from the field and hitting one 3-pointer. The Stout defense kept Platteville's lead in check, forcing 18 turnovers in the first two periods. The second period buzzer ended with the Pioneers on top 40-37.

In the third period the Blue Devils flipped the script, opening the quarter on a 13-4 run that was capped by a Bailey Diersen steal and coast-to-coast layup.

In the first four minutes of the third quarter, Stout forced seven turnovers and grabbed five steals. But they didn't stop there. The Blue Devils went on an 8-2 run after Nicole Schaub hit a fast break layup that was assisted by Haley Seifert. This opened the Blue Devil lead to 15 points, after being down at halftime by three. The Blue Devils had the Pioneers reeling at the end of the quarter. Stout was up 22, 77-55.

The fourth quarter was much of the same, Stout continued their fast break offense and great defense. At one point, the Blue Devils found themselves up by 30 points. The game ended with a Stout win, 99-71.

Six Stout players scored in double figures. Jenna Goldsmith and Sarah Schoch led the game with 17 points each, Kyncaide Diedrich had 13 points, while Shannan Watkins, Anna Brown and Diersen all scored 10 points. Goldsmith also pulled down nine rebounds and four blocked shots. Diersen also added to her line with six rebounds and three steals.

The Blue Devils feasted at the free throw line, almost like they have never done in school history. Stout was one free throw short of the school record when they drained 32-of-44 charity shots. The school record is 33 free throws made and 48 free throws attempted, both in the same game against UW-Superior in 1992.

Against the Pioneers, Stout shot 72.4 percent from the line. Stout was 12-of-15 (80.0 percent) from the line in the first half and 20-of-29 in the second half.  Watkins was 6-for-6 from the line and Schoch was 5-for-5. Diedrich was 7-for-10 and Goldsmith was 6-for-8. Hunter Hickey scored all of her points at the line, going 3-for-4.

For the Pioneers, Morgan Horstman scored 16 points while grabbing six boards and Elisa Bilderback scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

Stout will take their defensive mentality into the playoffs, as they travel to UW-Stevens Point Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. in a first round WIAC tournament game.