Young-Kruse becomes all-time wins leader in triumph over Falcons

Jessica Heinen (Sr., Spicer, Minn.) scored 23 points to help Hamline University head coach Melissa Young-Kruse become the school's all-time wins leader, as the Pipers defeated UW-River Falls at home, 78-66. The win was fifth-year head coach Young-Kruse's 51st victory at Hamline, eclipsing the win total set by Jo Buysse from 1990-1997. The Pipers scored the first basket of the game, to which the Falcons responded with two baskets for a 4-2 lead, which would ultimately be their only lead of the game. Hamline jumped out to a 15-point, 27-12, lead with eight minutes to play in the first half. Hamline continued to build on that lead in the first half, going ahead by 18 at 32-14 with just under five minutes to play until halftime. River Falls cut away at that lead heading towards the buzzer, going on a 9-2 run to close to 34-23 at the end of the opening 20 minutes. Jessica Heinen (Sr., Spicer, Minn.) led the Pipers with eight first-half points and seven rebounds, while Gabriella Gustafson (Sr., St. Louis Park, Minn.) had seven. The Falcons were led in the first half by Tess Lardie's (So., Eagan, Minn.) six points. In the second half, the Pipers continued to stay ahead, never allowing the Falcons to pull closer than four points. In addition to Heinen's 23 points, Jackie Kelly (So., Blaine, Minn.) had 17 points and Gustafson had 13. Heinen, Mary Wilkowski (So., Savannah, Ga.), and Jessica Englund (Fy.,St. Francis, Minn) each had eight rebounds. Britta Schwartzhoff (Sr., Hayward, Wis.) dished out six assists. River Falls was led by Tiffany Gregorich's (Fy., Altoona, Wis.) 15 poins, while Lardie had 12. Taylor House (Fy., Maple Grove, Minn.) had 10 points and eight rebounds, while Jenna Hanson (Sr., Altoona, Wis.) pulled down eight boards, as well.   With the non-conference win, the Pipers are 5-3, 2-3 MIAC, while the Falcons are now 7-3, 2-1 WIAC. The Pipers will return to the court on January 3 at Carleton for a 1:00 p.m. MIAC match-up.   Boxscore