CROOKSTON, Minn. – In a game riddled by turnovers, the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles fell to visiting University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs 71-67. The Bulldogs were able to overcome 25 turnovers thanks to UMC shooting 31.7 percent from the field and getting five more rebounds.

Alexa Thielman (Jr., G, Buffalo, Minn./Health Science) was the defensive leader for the Golden Eagles with six steals. Although she had an off-night shooting the ball from deep, she led the team with 19 points going 8-of-9 from the free throw line. Katrina Moenkedick (Jr., F, Perham, Minn./Applied Studies) was the only other Golden Eagle in double figures with 12 points and led the team with five rebounds.

UMD relied heavily on leading scorer Taylor Meyer. She had 27 points on 12-17 shooting. Jessica Newman added 17 with a three big shots down the home-stretch to secure the game for the Bulldogs. Anna Monke contributed in the paint with 11 rebounds, 8 of which came in the first half.

The Golden Eagles scored first on a layup by NSIC Player of the Week Moenkedick. UMD answered with 9 points of their own, 7 of which were scored by their leading scorer Taylor Meyer.

UMC regained the lead 12-11 with an Emily Gruber (Fr., F/C, Monticello, Minn./Undecided) basket off the feed from Moenkedick. Thielman recorded her third steal with 12 minutes left in the first half and UMC leading 12-11.

The Bulldogs got back in front with another Meyer bucket with 10:37 left in the first and held on until the 3:48 mark with Erika McRoberts' (Jr., F, Byron, Minn./Health Science) first points of the season.

After some back-and-forth play, the teams entered the break

Meyer was the highlight of the first half for the Bulldogs dropping in 15 points to match her season average per-game. Anna Monke starred for UMD, too with eight first half rebounds.

Both teams struggled turning the ball over in the first half and Thielman took advantage of it recording four steals. Moenkedick continued to be a leader on the court for the Golden Eagles chipping in eight points and tying Erika McRoberts with three rebounds.

UMD scored first in the second to give themselves a lead. The Golden Eagles were forced to call a timeout 1:25 into the half after the Bulldogs scored twice more off quick turnovers.

UMC responded nicely with a nice basket by Ebony Livingston (Sr., G/F, Minneapolis, Minn./Sports and Rec Management) out of the timeout. Once the Golden Eagles moved into a zone defense UMD struggled to find a rhythm offensively.

Thielman buried her first three of the night with 17 minutes left to pull the Golden Eagles back within 2. Thielman had a chance to pull the Golden Eagles back in front after being fouled, but could not convert the and-one free throw. On the following play, Thielman got her fifth steal of the night and UMD's third turnover in a row. She found Kenzie Church (Sr., F, Fairmount, N.D./Management) wide open in the corner who hit the 3 to give UMC the lead 40-37.

Alyssa Kerkhoff pulled UMD back ahead with 14 minutes remaining in the game.

The Bulldogs entered the second media timeout leading 17-13 despite having 20 turnovers on the day. They could attribute that to the fact that UMC was shooting just 29.2% up to this point.

The Golden Eagles had countless opportunities to pull the game closer or take the lead early in the second, but were let down by their free throw shooting starting the second half 2-8.

Finally, McRoberts was able to bring UMC back even with a layup assisted by Thielman. It did not last long as Jessica Newman hit a 3-pointer 11 second later followed by a Meyer layup a minute later.

Another big three from Newman after two Thielman free throws gave UMD a six point lead with 3:45 left. Thielman then hit 2 more free throws before Danielle Flood's three, and again made two free throws after that to make the score 65-60 UMD.

A minute and a half later Ashley Martell (Sr., G, Somerset, Wis./Health Science) sank a three from the right wing to pull the Golden Eagles back within 3. Kerkhoff airballed a shot as the shot clock ran down and Thielman was found on a back door cut and she got to the line for the fourth time in the last five minutes and hit both.

With 15 seconds left, down three, The Golden Eagles went to Thielman again, but she missed the three from the top of the key. She was able to chase down the offensive rebound and Coach Mike Roysland called a timeout with 12 seconds remaining.

A play was drawn up for Thielman and she missed the 3-pointer long, but Martell grabbed the offensive rebound, dribbled the ball to the corner and cut loose from 3. It missed just to the left and UMD's Newman corralled the rebound to secure the victory for the Bulldogs, final score 71-67.

Tomorrow, the Golden Eagles will take on St. Cloud State University at 4 p.m. in Crookston. SCSU comes into the game with an undefeated 5-0 record. They have played the same opponents as the Golden Eagles beating UMD by 14 and Bemidji by 25.

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).