Box Score MOORHEAD, Minn. - Minnesota State University Moorhead jetted out to a 21-2 lead and would not look back as they defeated the University of Minnesota Crookston 77-60 Sat., Dec. 14 at Alex Nemzek Hall in Moorhead, Minn. The Golden Eagles drop to 4-5 (1-4 NSIC) overall with the loss, while MSU Moorhead improves to 6-3 (2-3 NSIC) with the victory. The Golden Eagles played toe-to-toe the rest of the game, but the initial push from the Dragons would be enough to do UMC in.

The Golden Eagles were led on the night by Katrina Moenkedick (So., F, Perham, Minn./Early Childhood Education), who had 13 points, as did Alexa Thielman (So., G, Buffalo, Minn./Health Science). Thielman was 5-of-11 from the field, while Moenkedick was 4-of-10 from the field. Erika McRoberts (So., F, Byron, Minn./Health Science) continued her strong play as of late with nine points and six boards on the night while Cienna Walker (Jr., G, Ajax, Ontario/Marketing) added nine points off of the bench for the Golden Eagles. UMC shot 21-of-56 from the field for 37.5 percent and were just 4-of-17 for 23.5 percent from three.

The Dragons were led by 14 points and eight boards from Megan Strese. Megan Roehrich came off the bench for 17 points with three reys on the night. Morgan Banasik would add 10 points, while Haley Thomforde and Morgan Zabel each had nine. MSU Moorhead controlled the boards 42-25 led by eight boards from Megan Strese and Savanna Handevidt. The Dragons would shoot 24-of-51 for 47.1 percent from the field and were 8-of-15 for 53.3 percent from three.

MSU Moorhead exploded out of the gate getting out to an early 21-2 lead out of the gate led by four points from Morgan Banasik and two threes from Roehrich and one three from Handevidt. Christine Thorn (So., G, St. Michael, Minn./Early Childhood Education) finally ended the MSUM run with a trey. McRoberts followed it up with a conventional three-point play to cut the Dragon advantage to 21-8. The Golden Eagles would cut into the lead further following a Livingston three to make it MSUM 27, UMC 16 with 7:30 remaining in the first.

After being down 19 early, the Golden Eagles would get back the deficit to single digits after McRoberts found Moenkedick for a short jumper to cut the lead to 29-20. However, MSU Moorhead would counter and get the advantage back out to 16 at 37-21 after a Thomforde basket and two Megan Strese free throws.

The Golden Eagles would make one final push in the first half with a drive and lay-in from Walker to cut it to 37-23 going into the break.

The Golden Eagles were led in the first half by seven points from Moenkedick, who was 3-of-8 from the field while McRoberts added six points and four boards for the Golden Eagles. UMC would shoot 9-of-29 for 31.0 percent from the field and 2-of-9 from beyond the arc for just 22.2 percent.

The Dragons were paced by 10 points and five boards from Megan Strese, while Roehrich came off the bench for 10 points. MSU Moorhead was 13-of-28 from the field for 46.4 percent and were 3-of-7 from downtown for 42.9 percent.

Thielman took over early in the second half and was able to cut the MSUM lead to 12 at 43-31 using a couple of lay-ins but a three from Zabel and a put-back from Thomforde would get the Dragons back out to a 17-point advantage at 48-31. The Dragons would extend their lead out to 22 (60-38) following a Banasik trey with 11:01 remaining.

The Golden Eagles would make a push with just over seven minutes left in the half as Moenkedick hit two free throws and Selina Barnes (Fr., G, Colorado Springs, Colo./Health Science) hit a three to cut the MSUM advatage to 63-45, but the Dragons would get back out over 20. However, UMC wouldn't completely go away as Thielman drained a three with 3:40 left to cut it to 71-54, and the Golden Eagles be down 75-58 after a Walker jumper but that would be as close as UMC would get as MSU Moorhead would win 77-60.

The Golden Eagles will wrap up the 2013 calendar year Fri., Dec. 20 as they face Bemidji State University at 6 p.m. at BSU Gymnasium in Bemidji, Minn.

 For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website 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).