EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team fell to UW-River Falls 49-47 as the Falcons hit a lay-up with 1.5 seconds left to give the Blugolds their third straight loss here tonight at Zorn Arena.

River Falls had the final possession and held for last shot. Rachel Becker (Jr.-Gilmanton) blocked Erin Effle's shot but the rebound came down in Chantele Melgaard's hands and she put it in with 1.5 seconds left. Becker's three-quarter court shot at the buzzer fell short.

The Blugolds closed a 12-point halftime deficit to one with a 16-5 run to start the second half. Joanna Leafblad (Sr.-Eau Claire/Memorial) hit three-pointers on consecutive possessions to close the deficit to 36-35.

After the Falcons pushed their lead back to four, Eau Claire scored the next four points and tied the game at 40 on a Becca Carstensen (Sr.-Eau Claire/Memorial) jumper with 9:50 left. The Blugolds took their first lead of the game since the opening minutes when Emilee Planert (Sr.-Eau Claire/North) hit a baseline jumper to give Eau Claire a 44-42 lead.

River Falls regained the lead moments later off a lay-up and free throw to go up 47-45. Jessica Dickey (Sr.-White Bear Lake, MN/Cretin-Derham Hall) scored on a lay-up off a Becker pass to tie the game at 47 with 31 seconds left setting the stage for the game-winning lay-up.

The Falcons scored the first five points of the game but Eau Claire countered with an 8-0 run. Both teams battled back and forth until Becker hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 13. River Falls then closed the opening half on an 18-6 run to take a 31-19 lead into halftime.

Becker played an excellent all-around game with 12 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Michelle Burns (Fr.-Eau Claire/North) shared Blugold scoring honors with Becker with 12 points to go along with a game-high nine boards.

Both teams struggled from the floor as Eau Claire shot 36.5 percent and River Falls 34 percent. The Blugolds held a 40-30 rebounding advantage but committed 22 turnovers.

The loss drops Eau Claire to 3-5 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and 10-7 overall. River Falls improves to 5-3 in the WIAC and 12-4 overall.

The Blugolds will be in action next when they travel to Platteville Saturday to play the Pioneers. The game is scheduled to tip off at 5 p.m.

Eau Claire-River Falls Box Score

- JL -