RIVER FALLS, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – Despite a career-high scoring performance by Kristin Sahr (So.-Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area), the UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team fell short at UW-River Falls, 61-53 today.
River Falls led the Blugolds early and built a 13-point lead (25-12) just under 14 minutes into the game. While the Falcons still led by 12 with five minutes left in the first half, the Blugolds came back and led by one (32-31) at halftime.
Over the final five minutes, the Blugolds used a 15-2 run to get back into the game. Sahr came up big for Eau Claire and scored eight straight to end the half, which gave the Blugolds the lead.
The second half was closer than the first as neither team got up by more than seven until the very end. The Falcons hit the second half's opening basket and never trailed the rest of the way. The score was tied at 43 with just over 12 minutes remaining but River Falls outscored Eau Claire 18-10 the rest of the way to win.
Sahr finished the game with 23 points to reach a career-best. She had 37 points this season coming into today's game, playing in 16 games. A year ago, she scored a total of 19 points in 13 games.
Sarah Bingea (Sr.-Delano, Minn.) led the Blugolds in rebounding with seven.
River Falls finished the game outshooting the Blugolds 42.1 percent (24-for-57) to 34.5 percent (20-for-58). The Blugolds finished the game with a season-low six turnovers.
Eau Claire falls to 9-13 overall and 4-9 in the WIAC while River Falls improves to 12-9 on the season and 6-6 in conference play.
The Blugolds will be off Wednesday and will be back home next Saturday for a game against UW-Stout for Alumni Weekend. Action will get underway about 5 p.m.
-KM-