Oshkosh, Wis. (uwrfsports.com) – In a back and forth game, the UW-River Falls women's basketball fell just short of knocking off the No. 1 seed UW-Oshkosh Titans in the WIAC tournament, senior Kate Theisen led all scorers with 11 in the 56-48 loss.  

THE RUNDOWN
Final Score: UW-River Falls: 48, UW-Stout 56
Location: Kolf Sports Center, Oshkosh, Wisconsin  
Record: UWRF: 9-18 (4-12 WIAC), UW-Oshkosh 24-2 (13-1 WIAC)
 
WHAT HAPPENED

• The big run for the Titans came in the third quarter where they outscored the Falcons 20-7, and opened up the second half scoring the first seven points to bring the score 28-27, the Titans would take back the lead and never relinquish it the remainder of the game.    
• To begin the game the two teams felt each other out with the Falcons taking the first substantial lead with an 8-0 run highlighted by Theisen's second 3-pointer of the season. UWRF led 12-6 with 4:33 to go in the first quarter.  
• The No. 10 Titans responded by ending the quarter scoring seven of the next eight points to bring the score to 13-13 at the end of the first.
• The Falcons scored the opening bucket of the second, then the Titans scored seven unanswered points to take a 20-15 lead with 7:23 to go in the quarter.  
• In the remainder of the quarter the Falcon defense stifled the Titan offensive attack holding them scoreless for the remainder of the quarter. UWRF took advantage going on a 13-0 run to end the half to take a 28-20 lead. During the run Theisen connected on a second 3-pointer and scored five.   
• UW-Oshkosh scored the first seven points of the second half, and would take the lead back for good at 3:27 to go in the third quarter on a Madeline Staples layup.  
• By the end of the third, the score had swung in favor of the Titans with the score at 40-35.
• Oshkosh extended the lead to seven points to open the fourth quarter, but the sixth seeded Falcons would not go away. Senior Hannah Pignato connected on an and-one, followed by senior Katie Messman sinking a jump shot to bring the score to 44-42 with 7:01 remaining.
• UWRF would hang around with still 4:09 to go with Crystal Pearson bringing the Falcons to within two once again.
• The Titans hit a free throw and then grabbed an offensive rebound which turned into a 3-pointer, and the lead was up to six points with 3:37 to go.
• UWRF desperately trying to keep their season alive hit another 3-pointer, bringing the Falcons within three, with Theisen again the shooter. The Titans hit 5-6 free throws down the stretch, thus ending the season of the UWRF women's basketball team.

 
IN-DEPTH LOOK

• Theisen hit three 3-pointers in the game, which tripled her season total, and finished with 11 points.   
• Messman was the second Falcon in double figures. She finished with 10 and snagged three steals.  
• Pignato and Pearson each had six points on the night, with Taylor Karge finishing with seven points and five rebounds.  
• In total, UWRF shot 16-55 (29.1 percent) from the floor and made 6-25 (24 percent) from the three point line.
• On the glass the Falcons kept up with the Titans, with each team bringing down 44.   
• In the loss, Messman was able to finish her career with the third most 3-pointers in UWRF history.     

THE OPPOSITION

• In the win, the Titans were paced by Eliza Campbell and Taylor Schmidt with 10 pointer each on a combined 7-20 shooting.    
• Morgan Kokta scored eight points, and hauled in 12 rebounds. Both Isabella Samuels and Emma Melotik scored six points on a combined 4-9.  
• UW-Oshkosh as a team was 21-63 (33.3 percent) from the floor, and shot just 2-18 (11.1 percent) from the three point line. From the charity stripe the Titans kept the Falcons in the game by shooting 12-23 (52.2 percent).      

 
LOOKING AHEAD
With the loss the Falcons season comes to an end. The WIAC will announce all-conference teams and awards on Wednesday, March 1 at 12 p.m. (noon).