Box Score SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The University of Minnesota Crookston out-scored Augustana College (S.D.) in the second half but ultimately fell 94-83. The Golden Eagles were guided in the second half by Alexa Thielman (So., G, Buffalo, Minn./Health Science) who scored 19 of her 26 points in the second half. The Golden Eagles drop to 6-8 (3-7 NSIC) with Saturday's loss. Augustana improves to 10-4 (6-4 NSIC).

The Golden Eagles connected on 30-of-67 of their field goals for 44.8 percent and hit seven-of-15 threes for 46.7 percent led by six threes from Thielman. Thielman was 9-of-16 for the game en route to her 26 points. She was 6-of-10 from three. Her six threes would tie the school record for an individual at UMC. Katrina Moenkedick (So., F, Perham, Minn./Early Childhood Education) added 16 points and seven boards while Cienna Walker (So., G, Ajax, Ontario/Marketing) came off the bench for a career game with 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field.

Augustana was led on the game by 25 points from Shaunteva Ashley who was 7-of-11 from the field with three treys. Ashley was also 8-of-9 from the free throw line. Rhianna Gullickson added 22 points on the game on 10-of-13 shooting. Emily Schulte added 16 points for the Vikings. Riley Nordgaard would chip in nine points and 14 rebounds on the game. Augustana was 33-of-79 for 41.8 percent. The Vikings connected on 11-of-29 threes and were 17-of-24 for 70.8 percent from the charity stripe.

Augie out-rebounded the Golden Eagles 48-39. Moenkedick and Erika McRoberts (So., F, Byron, Minn./Health Science) led the Golden Eagles with seven boards.  

Thielman opened up Saturday's contest with a three and two free throws, to help Minnesota Crookston race out to a 5-0 advantage on Augustana.  The Vikings would take their first lead at 9-7 with a Schulte trey at the 17:22 mark. Augustana would extend their lead to 19-9 following a Katie Meister trey.

The Golden Eagles would crawl back into the fray with an 8-0 run to cut the Augustana lead to 24-21 led by six points from Walker off of the bench. The Vikings would quickly counter though to get back out to a 29-21 lead at the 9:40 mark led by a Shaunteva Ashley three. UMC would get the advantage down to five after a Walker free throw but the Vikings would get their lead out to 14 at the 2:19mark as Gullickson connected on a three-pointer to make it 45-33 and then made a lay-up to extend it to 47-33. Minnesota Crookston free throws from Perkins and Erika McRoberts (So., F, Byron, Minn./Health Science) would close the gap to 10 (47-37) with 1:23 remaining.

A last second three by Sydney Rome would send the Vikings into the locker room with a 52-39 advantage over the Golden Eagles.

Minnesota Crookston was 11-of-26 for 42.3 percent in the first half and 2-for-4 from three. In addition, the Golden Eagles made the most of their opportunities at the charity stripe, connecting on 15-of-16 attempts in the opening frame. Moenkedick led UMC with eight points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field. Thielman and Walker each added seven while Perkins came off the bench for six. UMC was plagued by turnovers in the first half with 12.

Augustana was paced by explosive first half performances from Gullickson with 15 and Ashley with 13. The Vikings were 21-of-43 for 48.8 percent from the field. In addition, they were dangerous from long distance as they hit 6-of-13 attempts from downtown for 46.2 percent. Schulte added eight points for the Vikings.

 The Golden Eagles would start the second half much like they did the first, on a run. Minnesota Crookston would go on a 6-2 run to start the half led by four points from Thielman to make it 54-45 Augie with 17:50 left in the second half. After an Augustana bucket pushed it out to 56-45, Thielman would continue her hot start to the half as she nailed a three to cut the Viking lead to 56-48. Thielman would have 10 points in the first five minutes of the half.

The Golden Eagles would get to within six after trading baskets with Augustana for nearly five minutes after Selina Barnes (Fr., G, Colorado Springs, Colo./Health Science) converted an old fashioned three-point play at the 10:59 mark. A Christine Thorn (So., G, St. Michael, Minn./Elementary Education) lay-up would get the Golden Eagles even closer as they cut the Viking lead to four (74-70) with 8:59 remaining in the half. A Moenkedick lay-up with 8:08 remaining would get UMC to within two.

However the tides would turn as Augustana went on a 5-0 run led by a Schulte trey to get back up by seven (79-72) with 7:35 left in the second half. A Thielman three with 4:09 would get the Golden Eagles to within five. Augustana would push their advantage back out to seven following two Riley Nordgaard free throws at the 2:45 but Thielman hit yet another three to cut the lead to 85-81 with 2:47 left. That would be as close as Minnesota Crookston would get as Augustana would hit free throws and crucial shots to close down UMC's comeback attempts.

Minnesota Crookston will return home Fri., Jan. 17 to face Northern State University at 6 p.m. at Lysaker Gymnasium. They will take on Minnesota State University Moorhead Sat., Jan. 18 at 4 p.m.

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).