Eagle women power past frigid Falcons

LA CROSSE, Wis.-  The UW- La Crosse women's basketball team came into this game with a disappointing 3-6 record to date including 0-3 in conference action.

The Eagles, who compete in the powerful WIAC, search for strong non conference opponents similar in skill-level to those they face in league play.

On this night they were too tall and too athletic for scrappy Concordia Wisconsin (6-4), staving off a late rally to conquer CUW 57-45.

UWL led 28-16 at halftime and actually built a monstrous 42-16 lead with less than fifteen minutes to play before the Falcons began to battle back. Up to that point CUW was shooting less than 20% and had turned the ball over 13 times. 

"We just did not show up.  We did not attempt to match their physical play.  It was embarrassing," said Coach Stacey Brunner-Jones.

Over the next nine minutes, the Falcon contingent doubled their own point total, but still trailed 50-32. 

Concordia reserves continued to chip away at the once-huge deficit right up to the final horn.

Statistics vividly dispayed the Concordia shooting woes.  The Falcons took 17 more shots than UW La Crosse, but finished with six fewer baskets.  UW-L had game-long 54% marksmanship compared to CUW's woeful 28%.  

Junior Katie Luethe (Oshkosh, Wis.) was the only Falcon in double figures with 11 points. One bright spot was the CUW defense which forced 25 turnovers.