OSHKOSH, Wis. – The UW-River Falls women's basketball team saw its WIAC Tournament run come to an end Wednesday night, falling to top-seeded UW-Oshkosh, 68-41, in the semifinals at Kolf Sports Center in Oshkosh.
River Falls concludes the contest at 16-11 overall, while the Titans improve to 24-2 on the season.
The Falcons battled early, trailing just 18-13 after the opening quarter. Emily Anderson knocked down a pair of first-quarter threes, and Sidney Schmit added one from beyond the arc to keep River Falls within striking distance.
Oshkosh used a hot second quarter to create separation. The Titans outscored the Falcons 19-4 in the period, holding River Falls to 2-of-15 shooting in the frame to take a 37-17 lead into halftime.
River Falls matched the Titans with 14 points in the third quarter. Taylor Clarey and Zoey Buchan each found the lane for key baskets in the frame, while Olivia Boily added an interior presence to help steady the offense. However, the Titans maintained control and extended their advantage in the fourth to secure the 68-41 final.
Anderson led the Falcons with 10 points, shooting 2-of-5 from three-point range. Buchan added eight points while Clarey and Jocelyn Plonski each contributed six points. Boily chipped in six and four boards off the bench to round out the Falcon scoring effort.
As a team, River Falls shot 27.3 percent from the field (15-of-55) and 20.0 percent from beyond the arc (3-of-15). The Falcons converted 8-of-9 free-throw attempts and pulled down 31 rebounds on the night.
With the conference tournament complete for the Falcons, River Falls will now await its postseason fate. The NCAA Division III women's basketball selection show is scheduled for Monday, March 2 at 1:30 p.m., where the Falcons will learn if they have earned an at-large bid to the national tournament.