Ashland, Wisc. (uwrfsports.com) – A late rally came up short for the UW-River Falls women's basketball team as they fell to Northland College on the road 82-78.

THE RUNDOWN
Final Score: UW-River Falls: 78, Northland College 82
Location: Chapple Family Gymnasium, Ashland, Wisconsin
Record: UWRF: 3-3, Northland College 3-4 (1-1 UMAC)
 
WHAT HAPPENED

• The Falcons would fall back by as much as 10 points in the contest, but kept the Lumberjills in their sights for most of the game. Down the stretch free throws decided it, and Northland cashed in big going 29-31 from the free throw line in the game.
• UWRF would score the first four points of the game, but the Lumberjills responded by scoring 11 straight points to take a 15-10 lead after the first quarter.
• Northland obtained their largest lead in the second quarter taking a 20-10 lead early. River Falls was able to come within three points in the quarter, but trailed by five at the break.
• Katie Messman led UWRF in the opening half with six points, all off three pointers. UWRF shot 11-28 (39.3 percent) from the floor in the first half.
• Out of the locker room, the Falcons would capture an early third quarter lead by scoring seven of the first nine points to tie the game 37-37.
• Building up a six point lead with two three pointers from Messman and Taylor Karge, the Falcons were looking to deliver the knockout blow.
• Down seven, the Lumberjills scored seven straight to tie the game with 1:39 to go in the third quarter.
• UWRF would take the lead with 27 seconds to go, but a three pointer by Nicole Huber and a free throw by Katherine Taylor put Northland up two going into the fourth quarter and momentum on their side.
• In the fourth, both teams would obtain the lead, but with points steadily coming from the charity stripe, the Lumberjills outlasted the Falcons on their home court, where they have won all of their games this year.
• For the game, the Falcons shot 29-63 (46 percent) from the floor and connected on eight three pointers.
• On the boards, the Falcons dominated with 35 total rebounds to the Lumberjills 25. UWRF had 17 of those offensively and allowed just five Northland offensive rebounds.

 
IN-DEPTH LOOK

• Messman continued to have a big night for UWRF. She connected on four three pointers in the second half. Her 18 point performance ties her career high in points that she previously set against UW-Platteville in the 2014-15 season. She also had six rebounds in the game.

• Karge scored 17 points for UW-River Falls n 8-14 shooting. She also had a team-high seven rebounds.
• Hannah Pignato scored nine points in her first start of the season. She was 3-4 from the floor and added four steals.

THE OPPOSITION

• Huge performances by Huber (27 points) and Bethany Best (20 points) lead the way offensively for their home victory.
• Shooting 7-13 (53.8 percent) from beyond the arc, the Lumberjills were able to keep pace with the Falcons despite 20 turnovers.
• 29-31 (93.5 percent) from the free throw line also helped Northland to their victory.

 
LOOKING AHEAD
Luther College (4-3) is the Falcons next destination. UWRF will play Luther on December 10^th with a start time of 2 p.m. River Falls returns home on December 12^th against Hamline University (3-3).