Box Score Box Score

ABERDEEN, S.D. – The University of Minnesota, Crookston women's basketball team was ignited by the play of its bench as the Golden Eagles took down the Northern State University Wolves 63-56 Saturday evening at Wachs Arena to pick up their first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) road victory of the year. UMC improves to 5-6 (2-5 NSIC) on the season with the win. Northern State falls to 8-3 (4-3 NSIC) with Saturday's loss.

The Golden Eagles had 39 points off the bench led by Katrina Moenkedick (Fr., F, Perham, Minn.), who tallied 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting, and Jacy Christenson (Jr., G, Shoreview, Minn.), who added 12 points on four three-pointers. UMC also had solid performances off the bench from freshmen Erika McRoberts (F/C, Byron, Minn.), who tallied seven points and grabbed eight boards, and Christine Thorn (Fr., G, St. Michael, Minn.), who had six points. UMC shot 24-of-64 from the field for 37.5 percent and were 7-of-15 from beyond the arc for 46.7 percent.

UMC out-rebounded Northern State 49-47 paced by Alexa Thielman (Fr., G, Buffalo, Minn.) with nine boards while Moenkedick and McRoberts each tallied eight rebounds apiece.

Northern State was led by Alison Kusler and Devon Brecke, who each tallied 17 points while Rachel Krogman added nine. The Wolves shot 23-of-66 for 34.8 percent and were 3-of-14 for 21.4 percent from beyond the arc. Krogman led Northern State on the boards with nine.

The Golden Eagles and Wolves started the first half at a back-and-forth pace as both teams traded baskets for most of the period. UMC was finally able to get the first sizeable lead of either of the teams as they got up by five points on two occasions. The first opportunity came after a 7-2 Golden Eagle run that saw Jaya Perkins  (R-Fr., G, Lakeville, Minn.) tally two points and Moenkedick put in five as UMC took a 26-21 lead with six minutes remaining.

The Golden Eagles were able to get up by five again (28-23) a short time after following another Moenkedick make. UMC was able to extend their lead to seven points (31-24) after a lay-in and one converted free throw from Thielman at the 2:42 mark and further extended their advantage to 10 points (36-26) following a Christenson trey and a Wiese jumper to go into the break with that advantage.

UMC was paced in the opening period by the stellar play of its bench. The Golden Eagle reserves accounted 26 of 36 first half points paced by 10 from Moenkedick who was 4-of-6 from the field and 2-of-3 from the charity stripe. Christenson added nine points on three treys while McRoberts chipped in five points and grabbed five boards.

Thielman led UMC in rebounds with seven as the Golden Eagles out-rebounded Northern State 24-21 in the opening period. Martell paced the UMC starters with five points.

Golden Eagle leading scorer Brittani Wiese (Sr., G, Albertville, Minn.), who came in averaging over 13 points a game, was held to just two points in the opening period. UMC finished the first half shooting 14-of-34 from the field for 41.2 percent and were 5-of-8 from beyond the arc for 62.5 percent.
Northern State was led by Krogman's seven points while Brecke and Kusler each chipped in six points. The Wolves shot 11-of-31 for 35.5 percent and were 0-for-6 from behind the three-point line.

The Wolves opened the second half on a 4-0 run following a Krogman jumper and a Kusler lay-up to cut the lead to 36-30 with 18:00 left in the frame. However, Laurie Tyson (Sr., C, Rosemount, Minn.) and Wiese were able to convert two-point buckets for the Golden Eagles to get the lead back out to 10 (40-30). Northern State would methodically cut the lead to four points (44-40) at the 13:02 mark following a MacKinzie Magner lay-up.

The Golden Eagles would again counter aided by its bench as Christenson hit her fourth three-pointer to get the UMC advantage out to seven (47-40) but Northern State would crawl back and knot the game (47-47) with 8:30 remaining following a Kusler jumper. UMC would get the lead back with a McRoberts lay-up at the 7:45 mark but Brecke would get a Northern State basket to again knot the contest. UMC again took the lead back as Wiese found the net with a trey at the 7:00 mark to make it 52-49. The Golden Eagles were able to get their lead back out to six points (57-51) following Thorn lay-up off the in-bounds pass and a converted free throw and then a made jumper from Thorn.

Northern State would get the lead down to four points (57-53)  after a Kusler put back with just under four minutes but again, UMC countered as Tyson hit a jumper to get the lead back out to six points (59-53). A made three-pointer from Kusler would get the lead back down to three points with 3:00 remaining.

Tyson would hit two attempts from the charity stripe with 1:17 remaining to put the Golden Eagles ahead of the Wolves 61-56. Northern State would attempt to cut into the lead but UMC came away with the rebound after misses forcing UMC to foul Wiese, who went to the charity stripe but missed the front end of a one-and-one. The Wolves again missed their chance at a basket and were forced to foul sending McRoberts to the free-throw line where she missed the front end of a one-and-one but Wiese was able to secure the offensive rebound and was subsequently fouled by Northern State. Wiese again missed the front end of a one-and-one giving the Wolves another chance but UMC's Thorn took a Kusler charge, giving the ball back to the Golden Eagles.

Northern State then sent Thorn to the charity stripe where the freshman hit one-of-two to make it 62-56 with 22 seconds remaining. Hintz attempted a three-pointer for the Wolves but was unable to convert and Tyson grabbed the rebound. Tyson was sent to the free-throw line and converted one-of-two to make it a three possession game and ice the game. The Golden Eagles would come away with the 63-56 victory.

Tyson, who tied Kari Score's school record for career rebounds against Minnesota State University, Moorhead, took the record for keeps with six rebounds on the night. Tyson now has 578 rebounds in her career.

UMC returns home for only the second time this season next weekend as they host No. 5 Augustana College (S.D.) and No. 19 Wayne State College (Neb.)
For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics Web site at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

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The University of Minnesota, Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).