River Falls, Wis. (uwrfsports.com) – In a slow paced, defensive game, the UW-River Falls women's basketball team was unable to defeat visiting UW-Eau Claire, losing by a score of 44-41.

THE RUNDOWN
Final Score: UW-River Falls: 41, UW-Eau Claire 44
Location: Karges Center, River Falls, Wisconsin
Record: UWRF: 7-17 (2-11 WIAC), UW-Eau Claire 13-11 (7-6 WIAC)
 
WHAT HAPPENED

• The game was neck and neck throughout, but the fourth quarter is where both teams came up short. The two teams combined scored 10 points in the final frame, with the Blugolds just inching out the Falcons for the road victory.
• The first quarter would give a good indication of how the rest of the game would go, neither team scored in the first three and a half minutes, with the Falcons getting the first bucket to go.
• UWRF trailed for most of the quarter, but kept the game within reach, trailing by no more than three points the rest of the quarter. At the end of the first, UWEC would hold a 14-13 advantage.
• UWRF took the lead at 9:04 in the second quarter, and would take the game's first two possession lead with a three pointer by Katie Messman.
• The Blugolds put together an 8-0 run in the second quarter to regain the lead, this time for their own two possession lead, 24-20. At the end of the half, UWEC led 26-24.
• UWRF scored the first 10 points of the second half to obtain an eight point lead with 4:38 to go in the third quarter, capped off by a Taylor Paulsrud three pointer.
• The Blugolds countered with nine straight points of their own, regaining the lead back with 1:23 left in the third quarter. Heading into the fourth, UWRF held a 38-37 lead over the visiting Blugolds.
• UWRF down the stretch was unable to get their shots to fall, and missed a go-ahead layup with eight seconds to go, and a three pointer to tie from half court as time expired, but neither dropped and the visiting Blugolds obtained the win.

 
IN-DEPTH LOOK

• Messman scored all nine of her team-leading nine points in the first half. She was 3-8 and added five rebounds and two assists.
• Kate Theisen and Paulsrud each scored six for the Falcons, both players had two field goals in the game.
• As a team, UWRF shot 16-61 (26.2 percent) from the floor, with nearly a third of their shots coming from beyond the arc, going 5-25 on three pointers.
• The Falcons attempted just four free throws in the game, but made all four of their attempts.

THE OPPOSITION

• The only player on either team to score in double-figures was freshman forward Anna Graaskamp, who scored 18 points on 8-17 shooting. She also wrestled down nine rebounds, and had a pair of blocks.
• Kayla Hanley scored eight points as the next highest Blugold scorer. Both of her field goals coming from beyond the arc, while adding three steals on the defensive end.
• From the floor, the Blugolds shot 17-53 (32.1 percent) and made five of their 21 three pointers.

 
LOOKING AHEAD
The Falcons will look to wrap up their regular season with a win against UW-Platteville on Saturday February 18 at 3 p.m.