Box Score

Northfield, Minn. (uwrfsports.com) – The 12^th ranked UW-River Falls women's basketball took on their first opponent of the 2016 season and took care of business against Carleton College by a score of 71-58.

THE RUNDOWN
Final Score: UW-River Falls: 71 Carleton College: 58
Location: West Gym, Northfield, Minnesota
Record: UWRF: 1-0, Carlteon College 0-1
 
WHAT HAPPENED

• The first bucket of the season came from senior guard Brynn Liljander on a three point bucket from the wing.
• The Knights would keep pace with the Falcons early on in the first quarter. They took the lead 9-7 at 3:05 to go in the quarter, and would keep the lead the rest of the quarter and take a 13-11 score into the second frame. Kate Theisen would lead the Falcons in first quarter scoring with four points.
• The Falcons would take control in the second quarter. After falling down by three points, UWRF would respond with an 11-0 run led by five points by senior Taylor Karge and sophomore Taylor Paulsrud.
• UW-River Falls would keep their lead after the big run, and take a 32-25 lead into the locker room. In the second quarter the Falcons outscored the Knights 21-14 in the quarter. Karge scored seven points in the quarter and Ali Clark scored six for UWRF.
• UWRF shot just 27.5 percent from the floor in the first half, but used three shots beyond the arc in the second quarter to take the lead.
• To start the second half, UWRF would keep their distance from Carleton. The Knights would cut the lead to three points early in the third quarter, but UWRF would score the next seven points to take the first double digit lead of the game 41-31. The Knights and Falcons would exchange buckets for the remainder of the third quarter. The Falcons would take an 11 point lead into the final quarter of the season opener.
• Paulsrud would continue her impressive Falcon debut. She scored eight points in the third quarter on 3-3 shooting to put her game total at 13 points, she would end the game with 13 points on 5-8 shooting and two three pointers.
• The Knights would not go away quietly though. In the fourth quarter the Falcons would extend their lead to 15 points, but the Knights scored the next nine points in just two minutes to get back in the game.
• The back and forth fourth quarter would continue. The Falcons reclaimed a double digit lead with 5:42 to go on back-to-back layups by Liljander, but the Knights used back-to-back three pointers to bring the score to 61-57 with 3:59 to go.
• In the remaining time, the Falcons would outscore the Knights 10-1 and roll with a 71-58 victory in their season opener.
• Liljander and Karge would combine for all 18 Falcon points in the fourth quarter on a combined 8-10 shooting.

 
IN-DEPTH LOOK

• Leading the way offensively was Karge who finished with a game-high 19 points on 9-17 shooting. She would register a double-double with 10 rebounds to go along with her 19 points. Karge would add three blocks to add to her impressive season opening performance.
• Liljander would finish with 17 points in the game on 6-15 shooting including three rebounds and three steals. She was 4-4 from the charity stripe.
• Rounding out the starting lineup was Paulsrud with 13 points, Katie Messman with six points, and Theisen with four points.
• Ali Clark scored eight points off the bench for UWRF. She also added six big rebounds, five of which were offensive.
• UWRF shot 37-73 (36.9 percent) from the floor in the game, 16-33 (48.5 percent) in the second half alone. The Falcons were 6-17 from the three point line and 11-13 from the free throw line to round out their shooting performance.
• Karge's 19 points in the season opener is the most in a season opening contest since November 23^rd, 2002 when Erin Effle scored 20 points against Chicago.  
   
  THE OPPOSITION

• Katie Chavez led the Knights in scoring with 14 points on 5-17 shooting. She was 3-11 from the three point line and added five rebounds and an assist.
• Sarah Waldfogel scored 13 points and had 10 rebounds for Carleton. She shot 6-6 from the free throw line for the Knights.
• The Knights shot 18-60 (30 percent) from the floor. 6-26 (23.1 percent) from beyond the arc and 16-19 (84.2 percent) from the free throw line.
• The Knights out rebounded the Falcons 46-44 in the game and had 15 offensive rebounds. The turned the ball over 20 times to the Falcons 11.

 
LOOKING AHEAD
Next up for UW-River Falls will be a weekend tournament at Wisconsin Lutheran on November 18^th and 19^th. The first game against Wisconsin Lutheran at 7 p.m. and the November 19^th game against Carthage College at 1 p.m.