UW-River Falls overcame fourteen first half turnovers to defeat UW-Whitewater 64-58 Sunday in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament championship game in Williams Center in Whitewater.  The Falcon victory, their first WIAC Tournament title, earns UW-RF, 20-7, the league's automatic berth in the NCAA III championship tournament.  UW-Whitewater, 23-4, will await word on an at-large berth into the tourney.  The NCAA III complete field and hosts will be announced Monday.

Whitewater began with 10-5 lead with 14:46 on the clock.  Alex Edmunds hit a pair of free throws to increase Whitewater's lead to 23-14 at 8:32.  It moved up to ten on a Cody Odegaard layup with 5:15 left, making the score 25-15.  Whitewater's largest lead of the half came on a Chris Davis jumper to give UW-W a 31-20 lead at 1:53.  Whitewater led at intermission 34-26.

Odegaard led both teams with ten points.  UW-RF stayed close with a 19-10 rebound margin. 

An Aaron Anderson three-pointer at 17:55 pulled the Falcons within one, 36-35.  A three-pointer by Brian Kimble at 16:48 gave the Falcons their first lead of the half, 39-38.  Whitewater was held without any scoring from 13:39 to 7:26.  When the Warhawks broke the draught the Falcons led 53-45.  Sixteen seconds later UW-RF made it a double figure lead, 55-45, on a Wade Guerin layin.  Then both teams went cold, with no scoring by either team from 7:01 to 4:07.  Alex Edmund's free throw ended that dry spell with the Falcons leading 55-48.  Six straight points by UW-W cut the deficit to 55-54 with 3:07 on the clock.  Whitewater was still within one, 57-56, with 1:15 left.  A Shane Manor jumper and five of six free throws closed out the game for the Falcons. 

The Falcons held the rebound margin from the first half totaling 32 in the game to Whitewater's 23. UW-RF held the Warhawks to 43% (20-47) from the field while hitting 50% (21-42) of their shots.

Odegaard and Davis shared team high honors with 12 points. Davis added six rebounds. Alex Merg dished out a game high four assists. River Falls was led by Guerin who posted a game high 18 points and grabbed nine boards. Kimble added thirteen points for the Falcons.

NCAA Division III regional play will begin Thursday, March 1.

For additional information: Pat Miller, UW-W coach, 262-472-1146