Wis-River Falls 76, Carthage 65
KENOSHA, Wis. - The Carthage women's basketball team hosted the Wis-River Falls Falcons in Tarble Arena on a snowy Saturday afternoon. It was a tough day for the Firebirds, as the Falcons shot 50% from the field to defeat the Firebirds 76-65.



The Falcons found the scoreboard first with a layup from Clarey Taylor, which was answered quickly by Alyssa Orozco. The two sides continued to trade baskets through most of the quarter, bringing the score to 15-15 with 2:59 left in the opening quarter. A three from Braelyn Beiler and a jumper from Olivia Boily lifted the Falcons to a five-point lead at 20-15. A three from Nora Ahram briefly cut the deficit to two points, before a three from Emily Anderson gave the Falcons a 23-28 lead. Orozco led the Firebirds with eight points in the quarter.

Back-to-back scores from Cord and Ahram cut the deficit to a point to open the quarter, and a free throw from Ahram tied the game to 23-23. A layup from Delaney Elsmore gave the Firebirds a 25-23 lead with 5:37 to play in the first half. A 7-0 run lifted the Falcons back into the lead. After the Firebirds final score of the half from Mallory Winters, the Falcons went on an 8-0 run in the final 1:47 of the second quarter to end the half with a 36-27 lead. Ahram led the Firebirds with five points in the quarter and 11 in the first half.

Anderson got the Falcons started with a three to open the second half and extend the lead to 10 points. A layup from Malia Green and a three from Orozco cut the deficit in half, trailing 39-34 with 7:57 to play. The Firebirds continued to control the momentum, closing within two points of the Falcons at 42-40, before back-to-back threes from Savannah Leopold would extend the lead once again for the Falcons. Wis-River Falls would end the third quarter on a 16-6 run, building their lead to 58-46. Green and Orozco each scored seven points in the period.

The two squads matched each other shot for shot in the fourth quarter with Carthage only outscoring Wis-River Falls 19-18 in the final 10 minutes. The Falcons would go on to win the game on the road.
 

 

• Alyssa Orozco - 19 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists
• Nora Ahram - 16 points, 3 assists
• Malia Green - 14 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals
• Grace Cord - 12 points, 3 rebounds, 6-8 FG

The Firebirds (4-3) return to action on Wednesday, Dec. 3 as the team opens CCIW play against North Central (Ill.) in Naperville, Ill. at 7 p.m. Carthage women's basketball returns to Tarble Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6 as the Firebirds host Carroll (Wis.) at 2 p.m. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.