Box Score BISMARCK, N.D.- A strong second half propelled University of Mary past University of Minnesota Crookston 76-68 Saturday at the McDowell Activity Center is Bismarck, N.D. The Golden Eagles went into the break with a 43-38 advantage on the Marauders but shot just 24.1 percent in the second half as U-Mary came away with the win. The Golden Eagles drop to 7-11 (4-10 NSIC). U-Mary improves to 11-6 (9-5 NSIC).

The Golden Eagles put up a strong first half, shooting 18-of-36 for 50 percent from the field, but could not mirror that performance in the second half as they were just 7-of-29 for 24.1 percent in the second half. Minnesota Crookston was led on the game by 18 points and seven rebounds from Katrina Moenkedick (So., F, Perham, Minn./Early Childhood Education). Moenkedick was 8-of-18 from the field on the night. Alexa Thielman (So., G, Buffalo, Minn./Health Science) added 13 points, four rebounds and four assists for the night but was unable to hit a three on the game, after coming in shooting over 50 percent from beyond the arc and averaging nearly three mades treys per game.

Ebony Livingston (Jr., G/F, Minneapolis, Minn./Sports and Rec Management) added eight points and six rebounds, while Christine Thorn (So., G, St. Michael, Minn./Elementary Education) came off the bench for nine points. Cienna Walker (Jr., G, Ajax, Ontario/Marketing) chipped in seven points and seven boards.

The Golden Eagles shot 3-of-8 for 37.5 percent from three-point range. They came into Saturday's game averaging 7.3 treys per game. UMC committed 16 turnovers on the game and out-rebounded the Marauders 43-42 on the game.

U-Mary also had a stronger first half than they did the second. The Marauders were 15-of-36 for 41.7 percent from the field in the first half, and 6-of-19 for 31.6 percent in the second half. They key stat though was their performance from the charity stripe as they went 23-of-33 for 69.7 percent in the second half and 29-of-40 for 72.5 percent from the game. They attempted 19 more free throws than the Golden Eagles did on the game.

The Marauders were led on the game by Brittney Dietz, who finished with 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field. Dietz was 5-of-6 from the charity stripe. Lindsey Sand added 13 points after an impressive showing from the foul line, connecting on 11-of-14 attempts. Linda Murray chipped in seven points and 14 rebounds on the night.

Minnesota Crookston took an early 17-11 advantage on U-Mary led by six points from Moenkedick. The Marauders would cut their deficit to just one at 17-16 following a Dietz lay-in at the 12:45 mark. U-Mary would knot things up at 19-19 following a three from Dani Clarke. After a back-and-forth pace for several minutes, the Marauders would take the lead 22-21 following a Taylor Henningsgard jumper, but UMC would take the lead back with a 4-0 run to jump back out to a 25-22 lead with 8:34 left in the first half. The Golden Eagles would hold onto their lead until the Marauders used a 8-2 run mark to take a 34-30 advantage following a pair of free throws from Dietz.

The Golden Eagles would end the first half on a run of their own, as they controlled the final four minutes of play in the frame, out-scoring the Marauders 13-4 to go into the locker room ahead 43-38. Minnesota Crookston's run was led by a surge from bench-player Avery Jackson (So., G, Wadena, Minn./Early Childhood Education), who has been coming on as of late. Jackson had five points on the run including a made three.

U-Mary would explode out of the gate in the second half as they went on an 8-0 run led by three points from Sand to take the lead back 46-43 at the 16:40 mark. A three-point play from Thielman would knot things back up between the two sides 46-46. Things would go back-and-forth again with UMC again tying things up, this time at 50-50 following a Livingston three. However, from there the Marauders would take control again as they went on a 7-0 run to go up 57-50 at the 11:52 mark. That would be the closest UMC would get for the remainder of the game as the Marauders kep the Golden Eagles at arm's length to win 76-68.

Minnesota Crookston will continue their road stretch as they head to University of Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State University next weekend.

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).