Box Score MOORHEAD, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women's  basketball team opened the 2014-15 basketball season with a thriller but came up just short in an 81-73 overtime loss to Northern Michigan University in their first game of the Highway 75 Classic at Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse in Moorhead, Minn. The Golden Eagles fall to 0-1, while Northern Michigan improves to 1-0.

The Golden Eagles were down two in regulation to the Wildcats, but with 56 seconds remaining Katrina Moenkedick (Jr., F, Perham, Minn./Applie Studies) would convert a three-point play to put the Golden Eagles ahead 64-63. Emily Gruber (Fr., F/C, Monticello, Minn./Undecided) would hit a bucket to extend UMC's klead to 66-63 with 28 second left. After an Abbey DeBruin lay-in with 15 seconds left, Northern Michigan would be within one at 66-65.

Micaela Noga (Fr., G, Parkers Prairie, Minn./Health Management) would hit one-of-two at the charity stripe to put the Golden Eagles ahead 67-65 with 11 seconds remaining. However, as time ran out DeBruin would hit a shot to send the game into overtime.

Northern Michigan took over from there out-scoring UMC 14-6 as they won what was essentially a free-throw shooting contest in overtime. 12 of Nortern Michigan's overtime points came at the charity stripe.

The Golden Eagles were led on the game by Alexa Thielman (Jr., G, Buffalo, Minn./Health Science), who had 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field. Thielman was 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Moenkedick added 11 points and four rebounds, while freshman Noga chipped in 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting. Gruber added 10 points on the game.

UMC was 27-of-64 from the field for 42.2 percent and 5-of-14 from beyond the arc for 35.7 percent. They struggled from the charity stripe, going 14-of-21 for 66.7 percent.

Northern Michigan also controlled the glass, winning the battle 49-32.

The Wildcats were led by 25 points from Alyssa Colla, who also had eight rebounds. She was 9-of-19 for the game. Lauren Gruber added 17 points, including going 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. DeBruin finished with a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Northern Michigan shot 26-of-64 for 40.6 percent from the field and were 7-of-15 for 46.7 percent from beyond the arc. NMU was nearly flawless on the charity stripe, connecting on 22-of-23 attempts for 95.7 percent.

The Golden Eagles will take on University of Wisconsin-Parkside at 7 p.m. in their second game of the Highway 75 Classic in Moorhead, Minn.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.
 
Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.
 
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).