Box Score
HONOLULU, Hawai'I - Hawai'I Pacific charged back from an 11-point second-half deficit to defeat the University of Minnesota Crookston 85-75 in their second game of the Oahu Classic Sun., Nov. 23 at Moanalua High School. The Golden Eagles fall to 1-3 on the season with Sunday's loss against a strong Hawai'I Pacific squad. The Sharks improve to 2-1 with the win.

The Golden Eagles were led by 24 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the field by Alexa Thielman (Jr., G, Buffalo, Minn./Health Science). Katrina Moenkedick (Jr., F, Perham, Minn./Applied Studies) added 12 points, while Emily Gruber (Fr., F/C, Monticello, Minn./Undecided) added 12, including going 6-of-6 from the charity stripe. Gruber was an amazing 15-of-16 from the charity stripe on the weekend.

UMC shot 26-of-60 for 43.3 percent from the field and were 8-of-21 for 38.1 percent from beyond the arc.

The Sharks were led by 24 points from Kylie Huerta on 8-of-13 shooting, including four treys. Chenise Peone added 19 points, while Morganne Comstock had 15 and Veanne Navarro had 12.
Hawai'I Pacific shot 32-of-65 from the field for 49.2 percent and was 10-of-22 from beyond the arc for 45.5 percent.

The Golden Eagles and Sharks went shot-for-shot early on in the game, as they were knotted 12-12 at the 14:52 mark of the game. The Golden Eagles would find a way to get out to a 29-23 lead at the 6:40 mark of the first half after Thielman popped a short jumper. However, the Sharks would come storming back as they went on a 9-4 run and cut the lead to one point at 33-32 following a  Peone three-pointer.

However, the Golden Eagles would counter with a 6-0 run of their own to get back out to a 39-32 led by four free throws from Gruber. The Sharks would close to within three at 39-36 after Peone hit a trey at the 1:39 mark. However, the Golden Eagles would go into the break with a 42-36 lead over the Sharks after Ashley Martell drained a three from the wing in the last minute of the opening period.

Minnesota Crookston was led by Moenkedick, who had 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field, and Gruber who tallied 12 points off the bench, including going 6-of-6 from the charity stripe. The Golden Eagles were 14-of-29 for 48.3 percent from the field and were 4-of-6 for 66.7 percent from beyond the arc.

Hawai'I Pacific shot 14-of-31 for 45.2 percent and were 4-of-9 for 44.4 percent from trey. Peone led the way with 10 points, including going 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Huerta added nine points, while Breanna McKenzie tallied eight points.

Out of the break, the Golden Eagles would take a 49-41 lead as Thielman hit a huge three at the 17:30 mark. A three from Maria Loughlin (Jr., G, Rogers, Minn.) and a jumper from Thielman would put UMC up 10 (54-44) with 16:23 remaining in the second half. They would extend their lead to 11.

The Sharks would cut the lead back to within six at 57-51 after Veanne Navarro drained two free throws with 15:17 remaining in the half. A jumper from Navarro after a stop of UMC would get the Sharks within 57-53 shortly thereafter. A Peone lay-in would get Hawai'I Pacific even closer, making it 57-55 with 14 minutes left in the game.

The Sharks would take back the lead as Dayanara Armenta drained a three to make it 58-57. However, UMC would quickly take the lead back at 59-58 at the 12:20 mark as Moenkedick drained two free throws. HPU would take the lead back as Peone converted an old-fashioned three-point play to make it 61-59. The Sharks would get their lead out to 63-59. A lay-in from Morganne Comstock would get the Shark lead out to 69-63.

The Golden Eagles would come charging back led by an Ashley Martell trey to make it 69-66. HPU would get their lead to 78-68 following a Huerta trey with 4:03 remaining.

UMC would go on a quick 5-0 run to get to within 78-73 following three Thielman free throws and a lay-in off a Thielman miss by Moenkedick.

The Golden Eagles would get to within five, but a Huerta trey would ice the game late for Hawai'I Pacific as they would hang on for an 85-77 win. 

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).