EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (UWECBlugolds.com) - The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team came up just short against 25th-ranked UW-River Falls, losing 65-64 at Zorn Arena tonight.

In a game where the lead changed hands 17 times and was tied 11 others, River Falls (6-2, 2-1 WIAC) hit a three-pointer with a minute and a half remaining to take a 65-64 lead. Neither team scored the rest of the way.

The Blugolds (4-4, 1-2 WIAC) jumped out to the lead after a Nicole Christianson (Jr.-Chetek, Wis.) three-pointer one minute into the contest but the teams then went back and forth.

The Blugolds reached their largest lead of the game (four points) near the 12-minute mark while River Falls had a lead of six points with just over four minutes to go in the half. Over the final five minutes of the half, however, the Blugolds used a 14-5 run to help them take a one-point lead (30-29) into halftime.

The second half was much of the same but River Falls grabbed the opening lead. The Falcons were able to get up by as much as five points less than five minutes into the half after opening on an 8-2 run. But the Blugolds then went on a 16-8 run to take a three-point lead with less than 10 minutes to play.

The final seven minutes were very closely played, with the score being tied six times before River Falls grabbed the final lead.

Leah Rempert (So.-Lake Geneva, Wis./Badger) and Christianson both reach career-high point totals with the Blugolds to lead the team with 17 points. Rempert also had a team-high three steals while River Falls' Alise Holst led the game with 18 points and five steals.

On the boards, River Falls outrebounded the Blugolds 44-27. Sarah Bingea (So.-Delano, Minn.) led the game with eight rebounds while she also had 12 points. Brittany Gregorich led the Falcons with six rebounds while four others each had five.

Saturday the Blugolds will be at home again to face UW-Stout. Action will get underway at 5 p.m.