RIVER FALLS, Wis. (uwrfsports.com) - The Falcons were outpaced early by No. 3-ranked St. Thomas in a 89-42 loss at Page Arena on Wednesday night. Preseason All-American Hannah Spaulding led the Tommies with 19 points and 6 rebounds on only five shot attempts, and St. Thomas finished shooting over 50 percent from the field and almost 60 percent from beyond the arc. 

UWRF struggled to hit shots in the first half, shooting only 17 percent from the field and finding themselves in an 27-4 deficit in the first quarter. The lead was stretched to 46-13 by halftime after Madelyn O'Brien, Brianna Koop and Brianna Leahy all found themselves in early foul trouble. Crystal Pearson led the way for the Falcons with six points in the first half.

Leahy scored all of her team-high nine points in the second half on 4-6 shooting, but the Falcons couldn't cut into the Tommies lead after intense defensive pressure and hot shooting led them to a 52-point lead midway through the fourth quarter. Taylor Paulsrud had a team-high four steals, and UWRF shot 40 percent from the field and 60 percent on three pointers in the second half. They also came up only one point shy of outscoring St. Thomas in the fourth quarter. 

The Falcons are now 3-4 after their third-straight loss and will take on Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis. on Dec. 7 in their next non-conference game. It will be the first of six-straight away games before they return home on January 9 to take on UW-Platteville.