Box Score

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. (uwrfsports.com)- During the 2015-2016 season, calling the UW-River Falls women's basketball team road warriors would be an understatement. The Falcons (19-4, 10-2 WIAC), who have won seven out of their nine road games, continued their road-dominance on Saturday when they defeated the UW-Platteville Pioneers 75-59.
 
The Falcons and the Pioneers met in late January, and the Falcons used a fourth quarter run to dispose of the Pioneers 72-63.
 
UWRF got out to a fast start on the road. The Falcons forced a turnover on the Pioneers first possession and turned that turnover into two points on a layup from junior forward Kate Theisen. Junior guard Katie Messman, junior guard Brynn Liljander, and sophomore forward Taylor Karge continued the fast start for the Falcons.
 
Five points from Messman, four points from Karge, and two points from Liljander propelled the Falcons out to an early 12-4 lead.
 
The Pioneers did not go away. UWP used a 15-6 run in the second part of the first quarter to take an 18-19 lead over the Falcons.
 
Only 22 seconds into the second quarter, the Falcons retook the lead on a layup from sophomore post player Hayley Rau. The Pioneers did not let the Falcons have the lead for long, as the home team took back the lead on two free throws.  Although their biggest lead was only four points, the Pioneers led for the majority of the second quarter.
 
With 4:30 left in the second quarter, the Falcons found themselves down 30-31, but they would retake the lead for good. Junior post player Ali Clark made a layup to give the Falcons a 32-31 lead. UWRF would score five more points and the Pioneers would score three more points to make the halftime score 37-34 in favor of the Falcons.
 
UWRF opened up the third quarter with a bang, as the game's leading scorer, senior guard Richell Mehus, buried one of her five three-point field goals to give the Falcons a 40-34 lead. On their next possession, the Pioneers countered with a layup to trim the Falcon lead down to four points.
 
Every time it seemed like the Falcons were going to take control of the game in the third quarter, the Pioneers used runs to keep within distance of the Falcons. At the end of three quarters, the Falcons led 56-48.
 
In their previous meeting, the Falcons took control of the game in the fourth quarter. In this meeting, the Falcons, once again, took control in the fourth quarter. The Falcons opened up the fourth quarter on a 14-4 run to take a 70-52 lead.
 
Kate Theisen opened up the run with a layup. Richell Mehus and Katie Messman each hit a three-point field goal to extend the run. That run would be enough for the Falcons, as they defeated the Pioneers 75-59.
 
The Falcons had three players score in double figures. Senior Richell Mehus led the Falcons with 22 points. She was perfect from beyond the arc; hitting all five of her three-point field goal attempts. Mehus also dished out seven assists. Sophomore Taylor Karge was second on the team with 15 points and junior Brynn Liljander was third on the team with 14 points.
 
With their victory over the Pioneers, the Falcons hold onto their first place position in the WIAC standings. The Falcons hold a half game lead over the UW-Oshkosh Titans.
 
The Falcons are back in action on Wednesday, February 17 when they host the UW-Stout Blue Devils. The tipoff is set for 7 p.m. from Karges Center.