The Warhawk's dominant third quarter was erased in the fourth quarter after a late Falcon push saw UW-River Falls defeating the Warhawks at home, 67-64.
A back-and-forth first quarter saw River Falls enter the second quarter with a one-point lead at 14-13. The Falcons then came out strong in the second quarter, extending their lead to 12 points, but a Maggie Traustch three-pointer closed the gap back down to nine entering halftime.
The Warhawks came out of the half down 32 to 23, but went on a strong 14-5 run to tie the game at 37-37. Whitewater kept on the run to jump up to a six point lead (51-45) at the end of the third quarter. The Warhawks outscored the Falcons 28-13 in third quarter alone.
Whitewater extended their lead to nine points, but the Falcons weren't done yet, going on their own 12-1 run. The Falcons took the lead off a Macy Nielsen layup, at 65-64 with 18 seconds left. Two more Nielsen free throws sealed the win for the Falcons 67-64. The Falcons outscored the Warhawks 22-13 in the final quarter. Nielsen led the Falcons with 24 points.
Three Warhawks made it to double digits in the points category.
Aleah Grundahl (DeForest, Wis./DeForest) led the way with 21 points.
Kacie Carollo (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater) (16) and
Maggie Trautsch (Sun Prairie, Wis./DeForest) (11) were right behind her. Carollo recorded her fourth double-double of the season, also collecting 10 rebounds. Grundahl dished out four assists in the game.
The Warhawks shot 42-percent from the floor (22 for 53) with 26-percent (5 for 19) from deep. In comparison River Falls went 44-percent from the floor (23 for 52) with 47-percent from deep (8 for 17).
The Falcons outrebounded the Warhawks 33 to 32, but the Warhawks forced 20 turnovers from the Falcons while only committing 18 of their own.