The UW-River Falls Falcons (9-14, 4-10 WIAC) played host to the Warhawks of UW- Whitewater (11-12, 6-8 WIAC) in a game with postseason implications for the Red Out for Leo game that drew the largest crowd in the history of Falcon women's basketball with 702 people packing into the Karges Center.
 
Despite a strong comeback effort UWRF fell 74-67 to the Warhawks.
 
Both teams came out shooting red hot, as there was an array of big plays and an abundance of the three pointers for both teams. UWRF got out to a quick start on UWW but the Warhawks would battle back.
 
The game was tied 14-14 at the 10:55 mark. In the first half right before Cassy Saxton made a big lay up and was fouled to separate UWRF from UWW 16-14. Both teams would trade leads as there was a total of two lead changes and two ties throughout the half.  The last lead change came at the 7:51 mark when UWRF went up 21-20 for their last lead of the game.
 
The Falcons trailed the Warhawks by just one as both teams struggled to keep possession of the ball with 23 combined turnovers between the two teams. Early in the first half neither team could separate themselves as there was stretch from 7:51- 5:17 where there was only three points scored between the two teams before the Warhawks hit a three pointer to give extend their lead to 26-21.
 
After that basket the scoring came in abundance for UWW.  After the three pointer by UWW, the Falcons would turn the ball right back to UWW and the Warhawks were able to capitalize two points after that to extend their lead to 28-21. Richell Mehus was able to answer back on the next possession with a three pointer to cut the deficit to four points 28-24.  The largest deficit of the half reached as high as 17 at the 49.2 mark and UWRF would trail at halftime 41-28.
 
As a team the Falcons shot 5-10 (50%) from behind the three-point line. Mehus lead the way for the Falcons with 11 points as well as shooting an impressive 3-4 from behind the three-point line. Katie Messman tailed eight points to go along with a pair of steals.
 
 The Falcons struggled early in the second half as the UWW had an 18 point lead within the first minute of the second half. UWRF would slowly get themselves back in the game with timely shooting and forcing turnovers from Mehus and Messman. A Messman three pointer at the 12:53 mark to cut the Warhawks lead to 12 points and sparked the Falcons the rest of the half.
 
UWW would answer back and regain the momentum with a couple timely three pointers to extend the Warhawks lead back to as many as fifteen with 10 minutes still left in regulation. Taylor Karge gave the Falcons some hope after back-to-back baskets to get the Falcons back within 10 points with just under nine minutes left. UWRF was able to get within striking distance as they were within five points of UWW multiple times with under five minutes left in regulation. Those baskets came courtesy of a Mehus three pointer and an offensive rebound from Kate Theisen off a missed free throw, but the Falcons were unable to convert at the free throw line shooting 9-23 (39.1%) from the charity stripe. The Falcons were pesky and never gave up throughout the second half but were unable to complete the comeback.
 
The Falcons will travel to UW- Eau Claire next Wednesday to play the Bluegolds with tip off set for 7 p.m.
 
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