Box Score River Falls, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's basketball team opened its 2013-14 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) season with a 59-56 loss at UW-River Falls Wednesday night in the Karges Center.  The Eagles drop to 4-3 overall and 0-1 in the WIAC while the Falcons improve to 1-5 overall and 1-0 in the conference.  UW-River Falls earned its sixth straight win over UW-L. 

The game was tied three times in the first half, including 10-10 with 12:30 left after a Josie Hayes layup for UW-River Falls.  UW-L went on a 9-2 run to lead 19-12 with 5:30 remaining.  The Eagles led 29-19 at halftime. 

UW-L led 37-29 with 12:30 left in the game after a Maggi Bishop layup, but UW-River Falls went on a 13-4 run to lead 42-41 with 6:53 remaining.  The game was tied 49-49 with 4:52 left when Rachel Atchison scored on a layup and Mallory Cramer hit a jumper to give UW-L a four-point lead at 53-49 with 2:46 remaining. 

UW-River Falls scored the next seven points to lead 56-53 with 1:33 left.  Richell Mehus scored all seven points for the Falcons.  Katie Ehlen cut the lead to 56-55 with 1:14 remaining, but Katie Messman hit a three-point field goal for UW-River Falls to make it 59-55 with :58 left.  Mehus missed two free throws with :23 remaining and Erin Levenhagen made one-of-two at the line for UW-L to cut the deficit to 59-56 with :09 left. 

UW-L shot 31.8% from the field, including 22.2% (two-of-nine) from three-point range.  The Eagles shot 70.6% (12-of-17) at the free throw line.

Atchison led UW-L with 12 points while Jenna Anderson finished with 11.  Cramer finished with nine points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals while Bishop had eight points and a game-high 11 rebounds.  Ehlen also finished with eight points.

UW-River Falls shot 37.0% from the field, including 33.3% (six-of-18) from three-point range.  The Falcons shot 61.9% (13-of-21) at the line. 

Mehus led UW-River Falls with 16 points and nine rebounds.  Messman and Hailey Siegle each scored nine points. 

UW-L returns to action Saturday, December 7 at UW-Eau Claire at 7 p.m.