Falcons sink 15 3-pointers to down Pioneer Women's Hoops

RIVER FALLS, Wis. -- UW-River Falls used 15 three-pointers to help complete an 80-79 comeback over the University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team on Saturday at the Karges Center.

The Falcons made 46.9 percent (15-32) from three-point range and were led by Katie Messman and Taylor Karge, who each made four three-pointers. 

The Pioneers recorded a season-low five turnovers to go with their 17 assist for a season-best 3.4 assist-to-turnover ratio. Stacy Clark, Alyssa Krajco and Rachel Cropp combined to score 67 of UW-Platteville's 79 points. Clark netted a career-high 27 points, while Krajco recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Cropp scored 16 points and tallied eight rebounds and five assists. 

The Pioneers looked like they were on their way to take a double-digit lead a few times in the first half, but timely three-pointers by the Falcons kept UWRF in the game. UW-Platteville took a 39-32 lead into the half after using a 6-0 run in the final 1:19 of play. 

Cropp opened the second half with a three-pointer to give the Pioneers their largest lead of the game, 42-32. But the Falcons continued to hit shots when they needed them to keep the Pioneers from running away with the game. 

With an eight point Pioneer lead, the Falcons nailed a triple on three consecutive trips to take a 56-55 lead with 11:02 to play. UW-Platteville answered back with an 8-0 run, retaking a 63-56 lead with 9:28 remaining. 

Karge stopped the Pioneer run with a three-pointer to cut UWRF's deficit back to two possessions. 

With 2:09 to play, The Pioneers held a 77-72 lead when Cropp hit a jump shot. UWRF's Richell Mehus hit two free throws with 1:52 to play to cut the Pioneer lead to three. The Pioneers' Keeley Schulz made a pair free throws to put her team ahead by five again, 79-74. Twenty seconds later Mehus hit three-pointer to make it a two-point game, 79-77. With 52 seconds to play, Kate Theisen hit one of two free throws to make it a one-point game. The Pioneers missed two free throws with 37 seconds to play, giving the Falcons the ball back with time to set up for a potential game-winning shot. Karge hit a jumper and was fouled on the play to put the Falcons ahead by one with five seconds left to play. She missed the free throw. Schulz grabbed the rebound and missed a 15-foot jumper at the buzzer. 

The Pioneers return to Bo Ryan Court on Wednesday, Jan. 14 when they host UW-Superior at 7 p.m.