La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's basketball team earned a 56-54 victory over UW-River Falls Wednesday night in Mitchell Hall.  The Eagles improve to 4-6 overall and 1-2 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) while the Falcons falls to 3-6 overall and 0-3 in the conference.

The game was tied 10-10 with 13:15 remaining in the first half when UW-L went on a 10-2 run to lead 20-12 with 6:44 left. The Eagles led 22-14 when the Falcons finished the half on a 10-5 run to cut their halftime deficit to 27-24. 

UW-River Falls took its biggest lead of the game at 38-34 with 14:20 remaining after a Katie Theisen layup, but UW-L scored the next seven points to lead 41-34 with 10:55 left.  Katie Messman's three-point field goal with 9:22 remaining gave the Falcons a 46-43 lead before the Eagles came back to take a 47-46 advantage with a layup fromMaKenzie Miller and jumper from Sierra Watrud.  Theisen tied the game with a free throw at 47-47 with 5:14 remaining and then gave UW-River Falls a 49-47 lead on a pair of free throws with 3:25 left. 

UW-L tied the game on Maggi Bishop's layup with 2:56 remaining. After Theisen hit one-of-two at the line to give UW-River Falls 50-49 lead with 2:33 left, Bishop came right back with a layup to give UW-L a 51-50 lead with 2:04 remaining.  Elise DeNoyer made two free throws with 1:42 left to make it 53-50, but Theisen cut the lead to one on a jumper with 1:27 remaining. After a UW-L fould, Richell Mehus missed a three-point attempt for UW-River Falls. Watrud hit one of two free throws with :24 left to give UW-L a 54-52 lead, but Theisen tied the contest on a jumper with :11 remaining.  Jenna Anderson was fouled coming down the court and hit both free throws with :08 left to give the Eagles a 56-54 lead.  Jessie Van Wyhe's jumper was missed for UW-River Falls with :02 remaining. 

The contest featured 13 ties and 11 lead changes.

UW-L shot 40.5% from the field, including 50.0% (three-of-six) from three-point range, and 63.3% (19-of-30) at the free throw line. 

Bishop led three players in double figures for the Eagles with 14 points. Miller finished with 11 points while Cameron Chapin scored 10 points off the bench.  Bishop and Miller both had a game-high eight rebounds.  Anderson had nine points and five assists. 

UW-River Falls shot 30.8% from the field, including 18.2% (four-of-22) from three-point range, and 76.9% (10-of-13) at the line. 

Theisen led the Falcons with 20 points and seven rebounds while Messman finished with nine points and Ali Clark eight. Mehus also had seven rebounds.

UW-L returns to action Monday, December 29 versus Bethany Lutheran College (Minn.) at 1:30 p.m. at the JustAgame Fieldhouse in Wisconsin Dells.