River Falls, Wis. (uwrfsports.com) – In an explosive second half, the UW-River Falls women's basketball team defeated UW-Stout 72-63 to sweep the season series with Hayley Rau and Taylor Karge each gobbling up 14 rebounds.

THE RUNDOWN
Final Score: UW-River Falls: 72, UW-Stout 63
Location: Karges Center, River Falls, Wisconsin
Record: UWRF: 7-15 (2-9 WIAC), UW-Stout 7-15 (3-8 WIAC)
 
WHAT HAPPENED

• The Falcons exploded for 50 points in the second half after just 22 first half points. The Falcons shot 17-28 (60.7 percent) in the second half including an 11-0 run to start the third quarter.
• The Blue Devils began the game with an 8-2 run to take control of the game in the first four minutes.
• UWRF responded with an 8-2 run of their own to tie the game at 10 with 2:57 to go in the first quarter. The Blue Devils scored the final seven points of the quarter to hold a 17-10 lead.
• The Blue Devils lead would reach 11 at the start of the second quarter. The Falcons brought the lead down to six before the Blue Devils closed out the quarter up by 11 points, and at one point going up by 13.
• The 11-0 run at the start of the third quarter was led by Katie Messman with five points in the run. A Messman three pointer capped off the run with the score tied at 33.
• Stout would lay a bucket in to take the lead back at 6:15, then for the next three minutes neither team scored. The Falcons tied the game back up at 3:00 in the third, and scored the next eight points to lead by six points. The Falcons ended the quarter up by five.
• UWRF opened up the fourth quarter with another big run. The 9-0 run was highlighted by a pair of Karge layups and another three pointer from Messman.
• The Falcons extended their lead to as much as 17 points in the fourth quarter, and would eat away at the clock in the remaining time to win their second conference game of the season.            

 
IN-DEPTH LOOK

• Karge finished with 20 points and 14 rebounds, her second double-double of the season and her season-high for rebounds. The 20 points also ties her season-high for points.
• Hayley Rau scored 12 points and finished with a season-high 14 rebounds. Rau also finished with a season-high three blocks.
• Messman finished with 11 points with three of her field goals coming from beyond the arc.
• Taylor Paulsrud was the fourth Falcon in double-figures with 10 points on 5-9 shooting.
• As a team, the Falcons shot 25-58 (42.1 percent) from the floor. UWRF shot 7-11 (63.6 percent) from the three point line, which is the highest by the team since November 21, 2009 where the team shot 6-8 (75 percent) from the three point line.
• UWRF dominated the boards in the game with 52 rebounds to the Blue Devils 40. River Falls shot an efficient 15-17 (88.2 percent) from the charity stripe.   

THE OPPOSITION

• UW-Stout had four players reach double-figures in the game with Jenna Goldsmith and Anna Brown each contributing 15 points. Goldsmith also had eight rebounds.
• Kyncaide Diedrich scored 14 points as well with Bailey Diersen scoring 10.
• From the floor the Blue Devils shot 26-75 (34.7 percent) with four of their shots coming from the three point line. The Blue Devils struggled from the free throw line shooting 7-19 (36.8 percent).   

 
LOOKING AHEAD
The next test for the Falcons who are still alive in the WIAC playoff picture is UW-Whitewater (18-4, 8-3 WIAC) on February 11 at 3 p.m. UWRF then will return home for the final two games of the season.