21st-Ranked Falcons Overpower Titans

UW-River Falls opened the game with 11 minutes of shutout defense to gain a 71-46 women's basketball triumph over UW-Oshkosh on Saturday (Feb. 11) in River Falls. The Falcons (19-4/11-3) are currently ranked 21st in the NCAA Division III by D3hoops.com.

UW-Oshkosh missed its first 12 shots of the contest and fell behind, 16-0. The Falcons got their first five baskets from five different players, as Tess Lueders posted a lay-up at the 11:49 mark to lead, 13-0. Eleven players scored for UW-River Falls, including team-highs of 10 points and five assists by Alise Holst.

With 8:14 to play in the opening half, Sarah Stecker (So. • Menasha) got the Titans on the board with a free throw. Katie Kitzke (Jr. • South Milwaukee) then connected from three-point range to pull within 16-4. UW-River Falls held UW-Oshkosh to 2-for-21 shooting (10 percent) in the period and held a 35-6 advantage at the break.

The Titans (7-16/1-13 WIAC) won the second half by a 40-36 tally. Right out of the locker room, UW-Oshkosh booked a 14-5 scoring run that began with a Kitzke lay-up and concluded with a Kitzke three-pointer. The closest the score would get was a 42-20 figure with 15:50 remaining.

Brittany Gregorich counted back-to-back hoops as the Falcons stretched their margin. After a Jamie Kenealy lay-in with 9:34 on the clock, UW-River Falls held its largest lead of 60-25.

Kitzke nailed seven of her 11 shots for a game-best 20 points. UW-Oshkosh also obtained six points from Heather Conroy (Fr. • Wisconsin Dells), five assists from Megan Wenig (Jr. • Oshkosh) and five rebounds from Alissa Schuh (Fr. • Freedom). The Titans totaled 32 percent (17-53) overall accuracy, including 4-of-8 from deep and 8-of-10 at the foul line (80 percent).

UW-River Falls owned a huge advantage in rebounds, 50-25, including a 20-7 disparity on the offensive end. Maranda Dohrn grabbed 12 boards with nine points for the Falcons, who also used nine points by Brittany Gregorich and eight points by Kenealy.

Remaining one game back of conference-leading UW-Stevens Point, the Falcons compiled 45 percent (29-65) shooting from the field, 33 percent (4-12) success behind the arc and 75 percent marksmanship (9-12) at the charity stripe.

UW-Oshkosh returns home to face UW-Whitewater on Wednesday (Feb. 15) in Kolf Sports Center.