After dropping their first three games of the 2014-15 season, the UW-Superior women's basketball team finally had a chance to even their record when they took on the UW-River Falls Falcons Wednesday night.
The Yellowjackets made the most of their opportunity, breaking open a close game in the second half on the way to posting a 66-56 win over the Falcons at the Karges Center in River Falls.
UW-Superior's victory not only evened the Yellowjackets overall mark at 3-3, it also left senior guard Sally Linzmeier (Valders, Wis./Valders) just four points away from breaking the school's all-time scoring record. Linzmeier, who entered the game needing 20 points to set the mark, finished the evening with 16 and will now look to break the record during Saturday's game with UW-Stevens Point at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium.
Brynn Liljander (Isanti, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti) paced the Yellowjackets (3-3 overall, 1-0 WIAC) with 17 points in helping UW-Superior win their WIAC Conference opener for the first time since the 2012-13 season.
UW-River Falls (3-4, 0-1) started quickly, taking an early 11-7 lead on a layup by Kate Theisen with 10:30 left in the opening half before the Yellowjackets rallied back for an 18-15 advantage following Allyssa Lindberg (Marquette, Mich./Marquette)'s jumper at the 3:37 mark.
Following a Linzmeier basket that gave UW-Superior a 20-17 lead, the Falcons scored the next five points to take a 22-20 edge on two free throws by Theisen with 1:47 remaining in the first half.
The Yellowjackets came right back however, getting a layup from Allie Nelson (Augusta, Wis./Augusta) along with two free throws from Liljander and an additional foul shot from Vanessa Lebens (Roseville, Minn./Roseville Area) in the final 47 seconds for a 25-22 cushion at the intermission.
UW-Superior began to take control early in the second half, scoring eight of the first 10 points in the frame for a 35-24 edge on a score from Bailee Bartunek (Audobon, Minn./Lake Park-Audobon) with 16:15 left in regulation.
The Yellowjackets continued to pull away from there, taking their largest lead of the contest at 54-37 on a jumper by Grace Kennedy (Wausau, Wis./Newman Catholic) with just 8:14 showing on the clock. UW-River Falls never got closer than nine points the rest of the way as UW-Superior held The Falcons to just 34.5 percent shooting for the evening.
For the game, UW-Superior shot 45.6 percent and forced 16 UW-River Falls turnovers.
Theisen led the Falcons with 17 points while Richell Mehus finished with 10.
Opening tip against the Pointers is scheduled for 3 p.m. The game can be heard on tape-delay starting at 5 p.m. on 91.3 FM. Matt Johnson will have the call.