PLATTEVILLE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - Using a strong start and finish against UW-Platteville, the UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team defeated the Pioneers 70-38 at Bo Ryan Court today.

The Blugolds, who ended a six-game losing streak with the win, improve to 4-10 overall and 3-2 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). The Pioneers fall to 9-4 on the season and 2-2 in WIAC play.

Eau Claire started the game well, outscoring Platteville 11-2 over the first six and a half minutes. The teams were tied just once after Platteville's first basket to even the score at 2-2, but the Blugolds then went on an 11-0 run and would never look back.

While the Pioneers closed to within five points midway through the half, the Blugolds gave up just 10 more Pioneer points the rest of the half, allowing Eau Claire to go back up by 12 (32-20) at halftime.

The second half was much of the same as the Blugolds allowed Platteville to score just 18 points the rest of the way. Eau Claire's largest lead of the game came with two minutes to go, up by 33 points (68-35).

The Pioneers did themselves no favors, shooting just 19.7 percent (12-for-61) from the floor, including going 6-for-32 (18.8 percent) from beyond the arc. The Blugolds finished shooting 6-for-9 (66.7 percent) from beyond the arc and 50.9 percent (28-for-55) from the floor.

The Blugolds dominated down low, outrebounding Platteville 45-31, and scoring 42 points in the paint to the Pioneers' eight.

Three Blugolds reached double figures in scoring with Laura Olson (So.-Osseo, Wis./Osseo-Fairchild) leading the way with a career-high 19 points as she was 7-for-8 from the floor. She scored five of the Blugolds' six three-pointers.

Hannah Mesick (Jr.-Chatfield, Minn.) picked up a double-double with 16 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

Ellen Plendl (So.-Chippewa Falls, Wis./McDonell) added 13 points and Jodi Lindner (Sr.-Neillsville, Wis.) finished with 12 boards while coming up with six assists and three steals.

The Blugolds will take the weekend off and will be back in action next Wednesday (Jan. 13) when they face UW-Superior in Zorn Arena at 7 p.m. for youth night.