Box Score

The Falcon women's basketball team snapped a seven game losing streak and beat UW-Eau Claire, 47-44, Saturday night at Eau Claire.

With the win the Falcons are now tied with Eau Claire and La Crosse for sixth place in the WIAC standings. The top six teams in the final regular season standings earn berths in the conference playoffs.

UWEC led, 26-24 at in a tightly played first half. The game was tied four times in the first 20 minutes of play. The last time, 24-24, with 47 seconds to go when Hannah Pignato hit a three-pointer. The Blugolds held the largest first half lead, seven points, 14-7, with 11:33 to play. But the Falcons went on a 7-0 run to tie the game, 14-14. Kristi Elles hit a three, Kate Theisen scored on a lay up and Mikaela Wilson hit a jumper for the seven Falcon points. 

The second half was just as close. Hailey Siegel gave the Falcons a 27-26 lead early in the second half when she hit a three. With 13:44 to play and the Blugolds leading, 30-27, Siegle hit another three to tie the game at 30-30. The Falcons held the lead for the next seven-plus minutes and held a slim 37-36 lead with 7:27 to play. With 5:12 to go UWEC's Teenie Lichtfus hit a three to tie the game at 39-39. Tracy Herzog gave the Falcons a 41-39 lead when she hit a lay up with 4:41 to go. With just 1:43 to play UWEC took a 42-41 lead after a made lay up. Tess Lueders then hit a jumper with 1:05 to play to put UWRF ahead, 43-42. With just 26 seconds to go, Siegle was fouled and she cooly stepped to the line and made both free throws to five UWRF a 45-42 lead. UWEC responded with a lay up with 12 seconds to go, but then Katie Messman made two free throws with four seconds to play to give the Falcons the win. 

Lueders and Siegle each scored eight points to lead the Falcons. Taylor Augustine had eight rebounds and Lueders six. Cassy Saxton led UWRF with three assists. Lichtfuss led UWEC with 14 points. 

Neither team shot well in the contest - UWRF was 17-54 (.315) from the field and UWEC was 15-51 (.294). 

The Falcons, now 5-16 overall and 4-9 in the WIAC, will next play a non-conference game at Martin Luther College on Tuesday with action starting at 7 p.m.

Box Score