EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The No. 7 seeded UW-River Falls women's basketball team fell 61-54 at No. 3 seed UW-Eau Claire Monday evening.
The Falcons' season ends with a 12-13 overall record, the most wins since the 2018 season.
Both teams got off to a slow start, taking three minutes each to get on the board. The Blugolds were then strong at the back end of the first quarter, taking a nine-point lead into the second period. UWEC led by as many as 14 in the second period before the Falcons answered, closing out the first half on an 11-3 run, capped off by a last-second triple from
Cassie Heinrichs, trimming the Blugold lead to 34-28 at halftime.
The home team opened the second half on a 12-0, gaining an 18-point advantage five minutes into the third quarter. The Falcons didn't deflate, rallying in the fourth quarter.
Down 50-36 heading into the final 10 minutes, UWRF cut the UWEC back to single digits four minutes in, and baskets from
Haley DeSouza and
Macy Nilsen late in regulation both trimmed the Blugold lead to four. The Blugolds sealed the win down the stretch though with free throws.
UWEC held an edge in rebounds, 38-32, and shot 38 percent from the field compared to the Falcons' 30 percent mark. The Blugolds also limited UWRF to a 5-of-22 ledger from beyond the arc.
Nilsen led the Falcons with 17 points, followed by a 10 points and four assist effort from Heinrichs.
