RIVER FALLS, Wis. (uwrfsports.com) - The Falcons used a strong first quarter to take a lead into halftime against the 10-2 UW-Eau Claire Blugolds, but poor shooting in the second and third quarters led to a 64-55 loss for UW-River Falls. Lori Wardynski had 15 points off the bench to lead the Falcons, while Taylor Paulsrud also finished with 15 points and was 10-10 from the free throw line. 

Both teams traded baskets in the opening quarter before the Falcons made a late run to go ahead by five points after baskets from Jenna Zeman and Brianna Koop to lead 17-12. That lead went up to eight points after a three-pointer from Paulsrud to open up the second quarter, but that would end as their biggest lead of the night. A three-pointer from Kelsey Bakken cut the lead to only one point before halftime, while the Falcons only managed to shoot 2-12 in the quarter. The Blugolds started the second half on an 8-0 run and were up by 15 points at the end of the third quarter after the Falcons only managed six points in the quarter. 

UWRF did their best to fight back into the game in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead back down to six points after a three-pointer from Crystal Pearson and a pair of free throws from Wardynski. This came with only a little over a minute remaining, while the Falcons had trailed by as much as 18 points with five minutes remaining. Bakken followed up the run by clinching the game with two free throws to add to her game-high 20 points. Katie Essen added 15 points and 10 rebounds as four Blugolds' starters finished in double figures. UWRF finished an impressive 20-22 from the free throw line but shot under 30 percent overall. Their bench also outscored UW-Eau Claire 19-2, 

The Falcons are now 6-6 overall after their loss in their WIAC opener. They will be on the road again on Saturday when they face UW-Stevens Point at 3 p.m.