Location: River Falls, WI 54022
Enrollment: 6,100
Chancellor: Don Betz
WIAC faculty representatives: Jim Mulvey, Barbara Rebhuhn
Athletic director: Rick Bowen (phone: 715/425-3246)
Assistant athletic director: Patti Ford (phone: 715/425-3244)
Head coach: Cindy Hovet (7th season, 81-73 career record) 715/425-3250
Assistant coaches: Kathy Holbrook, Nick Hall
National affiliation: National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Div. III
Conference: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Conference members: Eau Claire, La Crosse, Oshkosh, Platteville, River Falls, Stevens Point, Stout, Superior, Whitewater
Nickname: Falcons
Colors: Red and White
WIAC championships: (2) 1988, 1989
2006 overall record: 12-14
2006 conference record, finish: 8-8 (tie 5th place)
2006 letter winners lost: (4) Miranda Biteler (G), Jodi Kauth (G), Chisato Nakaike (G), Kendra Sticha (F)
2006 letter winners returning: (9) Jana Benitz (G), Krista Cordes (G), Caitlin Hunstock (F), Meghan Hunstock (F), Megan Lindman (P), Melanie Preiner (G), Traci Reimann (P), Kim Sorensen (G), Justine Speckel (G)
Home arena, phone: Karges Center, 715-425-3900
Trainers: Gary Eloranta, Crystal Lanning, 715/425-3130
Sports information director: Jim Thies 715/425-3846
Sports information fax: 715/425-4486
Web site: http://www.uwrf.edu/sports/sports0607
Falcon basketball web site: http://www.uwrf.edu/sports/sports0607/wbb_menu.htm

2006-2007 Falcon Preview

Quality athletic programs don't rebuild year to year; they reload. This is the only way to describe the talented group that will be taking the court this year for the UW-River Falls women's basketball team. The Falcons finished 12-14 overall (8-8 WIAC) last season but look to make their mark this year with a balance of experienced seniors and talented freshmen.  

Head Coach Cindy Hovet, who is in her seventh season and has an 81-73 career record at UWRF, is very pleased with the team that will be competing for the Falcons this year. The Falcons boast a roster loaded with talent, led by five seniors. "They are the core of the team," Hovet said of her seniors. Of the five seniors for the Falcons four played last year. Senior Chantele Melgaard took a year off last year to have her daughter, Jordan Marie Melgaard-Torrez, but is back this year and is looking to make waves for the Falcons. During the 2004-2005 season Melgaard averaged 31 minutes a game and was named to the All-WIAC Defensive team. Hovet is hopeful that Melgaard will be able to help fill in the gap left by Miranda Biteler who graduated last year. "[Biteler] was one of our better perimeter players, she is the key player who graduated," Hovet said.  

The four seniors who did play are also looking to have strong seasons.

Traci Reimann had an outstanding season last year as she registered nine double-doubles for the Falcons, was named UWRF Player of the Week five times and was named to the All-WIAC team as well as the All-WIAC Defensive team. Megan Lindman is back for the Falcons after she registered 24 blocks last season bringing her career total to 86; just 16 short of Patty Saxton's record set 25 years ago. Also looking to have another stellar year is Melanie Preiner. Preiner's ability to excel both on offense and defense showed last season as she finished with 73 steals and 55 three-pointers last year. Also returning is Krista Cordes who brings outstanding shooting ability. Cordes shot 35 percent last year from three-point range.

2006-2007 Falcon Schedule
Nov. 21 Hamline, 7 p.m.
Nov. 25 Augsburg, 3 p.m.
Nov. 26 St. Thomas, 3 p.m.
Nov. 29 Superior*, 7 p.m.
Dec. 2 Stevens Point*, 5 p.m.
Dec. 6 at Eau Claire*, 8 p.m.
Dec. 9 Platteville*, 3 p.m.
Dec. 13 at Macalester, 7 p.m.
Dec. 15 at Northwestern, 7 p.m.
Dec. 29 vs. Drew at Phoenix Tournament, 11 a.m.
Dec. 30 vs. Wesleyan at Phoenix Tournament, Noon
Jan. 2 Finlandia, 6 p.m.
Jan. 4 at St. Scholastica, 6 p.m.
Jan. 6 at Whitewater*, 3 p.m.
Jan. 10 at Stout*, 7 p.m.
Jan. 13 Oshkosh*, 3 p.m.
Jan. 17 at La Crosse*, 7 p.m.
Jan. 20 at Stevens Point*, 5 p.m.
Jan. 24 at Superior*, 7 p.m.
Jan. 27 at Oshkosh*, 3 p.m.
Jan. 31 Stout*, 7 p.m.
Feb. 3 at Platteville*, 3 p.m.
Feb. 7 Eau Claire*, 8 p.m.
Feb. 10 Whitewater*, 3 p.m.
Feb. 14 La Crosse*, 7 p.m.
Feb. 19 WIAC Tournament Playoffs, TBD
Feb. 21 WIAC Tournament Semifinals, TBD
Feb. 24 WIAC Tournament Finals, TBD
* WIAC Games

2005-2006 Falcon Results
12-14 overall, 8-8 WIAC
Home 9-3, Away 2-11, Neutral site 1-0

Date	W/L	Score	Opponent	Leading scorers	Leading rebounders
Nov. 18	W	95-61	vs. Finlandia^	Biteler, Lindman 18 each	Reimann 16, Lindman 8
Nov. 19	L	63-54	at Kalamazoo^	Reimann 17	Reimann 12, Preiner 7
Nov. 22	L	65-53	at Hamline	Biteler 10	Reimann 8, Biteler 6
Nov. 26	W	75-71	Viterbo	Reimann 25, Preiner 16	Reimann 13
Nov. 28	L	66-64 OT	at St. Thomas	Biteler 16, Reimann 15	Reimann 11
Nov. 30	W	70-53	at Superior*	Preiner 20, Lindman 14	Reimann 7, Benitz 6
Dec. 3	L	71-60	at Stevens Point*	Preiner 15	Reimann 6
Dec. 7	W	72-61	Eau Claire*	Preiner 18	Reimann 9, Cordes 7
Dec. 10	L	63-61	at Platteville*	Reimann 23, Benitz 13	Reimann 12, Lindman 7
Dec. 11	L	66-59	at Winona	Reimann 16, Cordes 15	Reimann 7
Dec. 14	W	65-29	Macalester	Preiner, Reimann 10	Kauth 10, Reimann 9
Dec. 16	W	62-32	Northwestern	Reimann 16, Preiner 14	Preiner, Cordes 8 each
Jan. 2	L	69-56	St. Scholastica	Reimann 15, Preiner 10	Preinter 14, Reimann 9
Jan. 7	W	69-59	Whitewater*	Cordes 24, Preiner 13	Reimann 12, Cordes 7
Jan. 11	L	71-59	Stout*	Reimann 27, Preiner 10	Reimann 8
Jan. 14	L	75-72	at Oshkosh*	Biteler 26, Reimann 14	Reimann 16, Biteler 7
Jan. 18	W	74-52	La Crosse*	Preiner 20, Lindman 17	Reimann 7
Jan. 21	L	55-46	Stevens Point*	Lindman 16, Preiner 12	Reimann 9, Preiner 7
Jan. 25	W	56-46	Superior*	Reimann 15, Preiner 13	Reimann 17, Lindman 5
Jan. 28	W	67-48	Oshkosh*	Cordes 14, Lindman 13	Reimann 14
Feb. 1	L	64-56	at Stout*	Biteler 15, Reimann 13	Reimann 13
Feb. 4	W	50-47	Platteville*	Biteler 15	Lindman 7
Feb. 8	L	56-32	at Eau Claire*	Lindman 8, Biteler 7	Cordes, Lindman 5 each
Feb. 11	W	65-52	at Whitewater*	Biteler 20, Preiner 14	Cordes 9
Feb. 15	L	56-49	at La Crosse*	Preiner 16, Cordes 11	Cordes 10, Sticha 4
Feb. 20	L	63-53	at La Crosse**	Biteler 14, Cordes 13	Lindman, Sticha 6

^ at at Kalamazoo Tourney
* WIAC Games
** WIAC Tournament Games

2006 Returning Letter Winners

Falcon 2006 Statistics Page

WIAC Women's Basketball Page

Cindy Hovet
Head Coach

Traci Reimann

Melanie Preiner