SIOUX FALLS, S.D.– The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team took Augustana College (S.D.) to overtime but fell 97-90 to the Vikings. The Golden Eagles, down 43-38 at the half, out-scored Augustana 44-39 to end regulation tied 82-82 with Augustana. However, the Vikings would go on a 9-0 run early in overtime to pick up the 97-90 win.

The Golden Eagles fall to 3-6 (2-3 NSIC) with the loss. Augustana improves to 8-4 (2-3 NSIC) with Saturday's win over Minnesota Crookston.

UMC freshman post player Emily Gruber (Fr., F/C, Monticello, Minn./Undecided) made it back-to-back 20 point games as she put up 21 points and seven boards on 9-of-14 shooting from the field. Gruber came up big on the weekend, in the absence of the injured Isieoma Odor (Fr., F/C, Bloomington, Minn./Health
Management). Gruber had 26 points in the upset win over No. 7 Wayne State College (Neb.) Friday. Gruber had averaged under 10 points coming into the weekend and averaged 23.5 points on the weekend.

The Golden Eagles had four players overall in double-figure scoring. Katrina Moenkedick (Jr., F, Perham, Minn./Applied Studies) tallied 14 points, while Alexa Thielman (Jr., G, Perham, Minn./Health Science) notched 13 points and Ebony Livingston (Sr., G/F, Minneapolis, Minn./Sports and Rec Management).

Minnesota Crookston shot 33-of-77 from the field for 42.9 percent. In addition, the Golden Eagles snapped out of their funk from beyond the arc, shooting 9-of-24 for 37.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Augustana was led by a double-double of 24 points and 13 rebounds from Nicole Kerkhoff, who was 11-of-18 from the field. Guard Shaunteva Ashley added 24 points, seven rebounds and eight assists on the game. In addition, Logan O'Farrell chipped in 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

The Vikings shot 42-of-87 from the field for 48.3 percent and 9-of-29 for 31.0 percent from beyond the arc.

After playing close early on, Augustana would get out to a 14-8 lead at the 14:45 mark of the first half after Ashley hit a jumper. The Golden Eagles would tie up the game 14-14 after a 6-0 run. However, Augustana would go on another run, out-scoring UMC 12-2 to give them the 26-16 advantage, following a Paige Peterson lay-in. Augustana would extend their lead to 14 (34-20) following an Ashley jumper with 6:12 remaining. The Vikings would go into the break up five (43-38) as Thielman hit a jumper in the final seconds of the first half.

Augustana would start the second half on a 10-3 run to take a 53-41 advantage over the Golden Eagles. UMC would counter with a 12-2 run of their own to come to within two points (55-53) with 13:33 remaining in the game.

The Vikings would get their lead back out to 61-53 following an Allie Koehn three. However, UMC would stay within striking distance, with the lead at 80-73 in favor of Augustana with 3:55 remaining. The Golden Eagles would go on a 6-0 run to get within one point (80-79) with 2:40 remaining. A three from Livingston with two minutes remaining would give the Golden Eagles an 82-80 lead.

The Vikings would knot up the game in the final seconds of regulation as Kerkhoff converted a lay-up with three seconds remaining, knotting the game at 82-82 and forcing overtime.

The play of Kerkhoff and O'Farrell would spark Augustana in the overtime period as Augustana would take the 97-90 win.

The Golden Eagles will wrap up the 2014 part of their slate as they host NSIC rival Bemidji State University at 5 p.m. Dec. 19.

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).