River Falls, La Crosse And Stevens Point Deliver Statement Wins
A pivotal Wednesday night across the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference reshaped the midseason picture, as sharp three-point shooting, decisive second-half runs, and milestone victories defined a packed slate of women’s and men’s basketball games around the state.
The most striking performance came in Eau Claire, where UW-River Falls pulled away from the host UW-Eau Claire women after an even opening quarter. Locked at 17-17 after ten minutes at the Sonnentag Event Center, the Falcons seized control in the second period, holding the Blugolds to just four points while building a commanding halftime cushion.
UW-River Falls’ edge came from beyond the arc. The Falcons knocked down 13 three-pointers on 27 attempts, repeatedly answering Eau Claire runs and stretching the margin whenever momentum threatened to swing. Eau Claire, despite forcing 18 turnovers and turning them into 19 points, struggled to match that efficiency, finishing 2-for-15 from three-point range.
Reanna Hutchinson led the Blugolds’ effort with 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting and added three steals, briefly sparking hope early in the third quarter with back-to-back baskets. Olivia Witkowski contributed eight points and nine rebounds, while Karsyn Bauman added five boards and two steals. But River Falls steadily extended the gap to 55-37 after three quarters and closed out a 71-52 road win, capitalizing on turnovers and steady free-throw shooting.
UW-Eau Claire finished the night 20-of-65 from the field and now turns its attention to a key road matchup at UW-La Crosse on Saturday, January 17, at 3 p.m. inside Mitchell Hall Gymnasium.
Conference Balance On Display Across Wisconsin
Elsewhere in the women’s schedule, UW-La Crosse delivered one of the night’s most convincing results, pulling away from UW-Whitewater at Kachel Gym. The Warhawks entered the contest 12-3 and shot 44 percent in the opening quarter, but their offense cooled sharply. Over the final three periods, Whitewater shot below 35 percent, while the Eagles maintained 50 percent shooting in every quarter, cruising to a 77-54 victory. The win moved UW-La Crosse to 9-6 overall and 2-2 in WIAC play.
In Stevens Point, the UW-Stevens Point women earned a breakthrough moment, securing their first WIAC win of the season with a dominant 79-50 decision over UW-Stout. The Pointers led by six after one quarter and by four at halftime before exploding in the final period, outscoring Stout 28-9. Maija Rice paced all scorers with 20 points as Stevens Point improved to 12-3 overall and 1-3 in conference play. The Pointers host UW-Platteville on Saturday.
The men’s side offered its own reversal of fortune. UW-Stevens Point carried a six-point halftime lead against UW-Stout before the Blue Devils surged after the break. Stout’s second-half run flipped the game, handing the Pointers an 83-67 loss and dropping Stevens Point to 13-2 overall and 3-1 in the WIAC.
With UW-Eau Claire matching up against UW-River Falls, UW-Stout clashing with UW-Stevens Point, and contenders continuing to trade blows, Wednesday underscored the depth and volatility of the WIAC. As Saturday’s slate approaches, including Eau Claire’s trip to La Crosse and Stevens Point’s home date with Platteville, the conference race remains wide open, with momentum capable of turning in a single quarter.
