The Falcon women's basketball team hosted its first home game of the season on Saturday afternoon. St. Olaf came into town and fell to the Falcons by a score of 56-48.

Freshman forward Taylor Karge led the way for the Falcons. Karge was the only Falcon to bust into double digits in the scoring column with 11 points. Karge also grabbed six rebounds and notched two assists. The assists were the first of Karge's collegiate career.

Three different Falcons grabbed a team leading six rebounds. Karge was joined by Richell Mehus and Jessie Van Wyhe in the rebounding parade.  
Van Wyhe and Katie Messman both put in nine points for the Falcons.

Betsey Daly led the scoring for St. Olaf. Daly put in a game high 20 points as only seven players for St. Olaf got on the scoreboard.

It was a close game throughout the contest. UW-River Falls only held a three-point, 20-17, lead at the half. UWRF held the lead for most of the first half. But with 7:14 to play the Oles tied the game, 14-14. From there the Falcons outscored St. Olaf, 6-3, the rest of the half.

The Falcons only outscored St. Olaf by five points in the second half, 36-31. St. Olaf took its biggest lead with 16:37 to play, 28-22 as they outscored the Falcons, 11-2, to start the second half. The Falcons clawed their way back in from for good with 8:47 to play when Mehus hit two free throws to give her team a 38-36 lead. The Falcons had two eight-point leads after that, including the difference at the game's end.

With the victory the Falcons improve to 3-1 in the early stages of the season.

The Falcons play their next game on Tuesday at Bethel University. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. 

Box Score