Yellowjacket report: River Falls knocks off UWS

SUPERIOR — Hermantown native Callie Hoff added to her school-record total with a goal as Wisconsin-River Falls defeated Wisconsin-Superior 6-1 in nonconference play on Friday, Feb. 4 at Wessman Arena.

The Yellowjackets' Jenna Curtis scored first, just 24 seconds into the game, but Kora Torkelson scored two power-play goals to give the visitors the lead after one period. UWRF added two more in the second period, including Hoff's 18th of the season, and two more goals in the third period.

McKenzie Whalen made 34 saves for UWS (6-7-1). The teams meet again today in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game in River Falls.

Jed Carlson / Superior Telegram

Wisconsin-Superior, with three power-play goals, carried a lead into the last two minutes of the game but went away empty-handed in a 4-3 WIAC loss at Wisconsin-River Falls on Friday.

UWS scored on two first-period power plays to take the lead, but the Falcons came back to tie early in the third.

Coltyn Bates gave UWS another lead on his second power-play goal of the game at 7:31 of the third period, but UWRF tied the game at even strength when Noah Ganske scored with 1:54 to play. After UWS took a too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty with 43 seconds to play, Ganske scored a game-winner for his hat trick with 12 seconds to play.

Vilho Saariluoma had a goal and three assists for UWRF.

Myles Hektor made 27 saves for the Yellowjackets (12-7-2, 5-4-1 WIAC). The teams meet again Saturday in Superior.

Martin Luther overcame a 41-27 halftime hole to score its first win against Wisconsin-Superior in 14 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference games, taking a 69-67 decision on Friday in New Ulm, Minnesota.

The hosts used a 22-11 edge in the third quarter to get back into the game, taking the lead 2 1/2 minutes into the fourth. It was tied 66-66 with :19 to play, and the Knights drew a foul with eight seconds left and made both their free throws. UWS made one of two in response. The Yellowjackets had the ball with a chance for a last shot inside the last two seconds, but an inbounds pass was tipped away.

Kaelyn Christian had a game-high 18 points off the bench for UWS (5-13, 4-5 UMAC), with Kaija Davies adding 10 points and 12 rebounds.

For Martin Luther, Emma Nelson scored 12 points.

UWS plays at Bethany Lutheran on Saturday.

Wisconsin Superior rallied from 60-51 down with 3:54 to play and came back to take a brief lead, but Martin Luther's last shot went in and the Yellowjackets' didn't, resulting in a 62-61 decision for the host Knights on Friday in New Ulm, Minnesota.

Eli Vogel made a shot in the paint to put UWS 61-60 after they had trailed for seven-plus minutes. Martin Luther called timeout and found Ezra Blumer for a shot from the paint to go ahead with four seconds to play. UWS's Josh Reinertsen took a 3-point shot at the buzzer and missed.

Xavier Patterson (22 points) was the only Yellowjacket to score in double figures. Seth Veers led Martin Luther, which won its first UMAC game this season in nine attempts, with 16 points.

UWS (7-12, 4-5 UMAC) plays at Bethany Lutheran on Saturday.

This article was edited at 1:26 p.m. on Feb. 9 to correct Coltyn Bates' first name and the day on which the Yellowjackets' men's basketball team played. The News Tribune regrets the error.