Box Score BEMIDJI, Minn. – Katrina Nordick (Sr., F, Perham, Minn./Applied Studies) led the University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team with 30 points and nine boards as they took down Bemidji State University 81-74 Fri., Dec. 18 at BSU Gymnasium. The Beavers got the game within two points with just over three minutes remaining, but Nordick would come up with an old-fashioned three-point play as the Golden Eagles held off the Beavers.

UMC has won three-straight games after losses on the road to University of Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State University. The Golden Eagles are 7-3 (4-2 NSIC), while Bemidji State moves to 5-5 (1-5 NSIC). UMC get the sweep over Bemidji State, despite a solid effort from the Beavers. The Golden Eagles avoid the upset from Bemidji State, who defeated UMC 71-69 Dec. 19, 2014 at Lysaker Gymnasium, in this game going into the Holiday break.

Nordick is averaging 24.7 points and 10.7 rebounds over the last three games for the Golden Eagles. She was 13-of-18 from the field, 1-of-1 from beyond the arc and 3-of-5 from the charity stripe. Three more Minnesota Crookston players would score in double-figures led by Micaela Noga (So., G, Parkers Prairie, Minn./Health Management), who had 13 points and six boards and was a perfect 8-of-8 from the charity stripe. Alexa Thielman (Sr., G, Buffalo, Minn./Health Science) added 11 points on 3-of-8 from the field, while Emily Gruber (So., F/C, Monticello, Minn.) added 10 points and five boards. Alison Hughes (Fr., G, Janesville, Wis./Early Childhood Education) added nine points and four assists.

Nordick just needs one point to move past Kari Score for third all-time in scoring. They both have 1,243 points. The only players in front of Nordick are Jamie Zelinsky with 1,724 points and Karna Plaine with 1,642 points, both players will be hard to catch, but not impossible for Nordick.

The Golden Eagles were 25-of-51 for 49.0 percent from the field and 4-of-13 for 30.8 percent from beyond the arc. UMC came up big from the charity stripe, where they were 27-of-33 for 81.8 percent.

Bemidji State had four players score in double figures led by 24 from Tatum Sheley, who also had eight boards. Sheley was 5-of-8 from beyond the arc. Hanna Zerr added 16, including going 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Sierra Senske chipped in 13 points and six boards, while Aimee Pelzer had 10 points and four assists.

The Beavers were 27-of-66 for 40.9 percent and were 11-of-23 for 47.8 percent from beyond the arc. BSU was 9-of-14 for 64.3 percent from the charity stripe.

The Beavers would get out to a 10-6 lead on the Golden Eagles in the first quarter following three-point makes from Pelzer and Sheley.

However UMC would storm back and would go on a 12-2 run to end the first quarter. The Golden Eagles would end the first quarter leading 21-14 over the Beavers.

UMC was led by their play in the post in the first quarter, led by six from Nordick and six off the bench from Isieoma Odor (R-Fr., F/C, Bloomington, Minn./Health Management)

The Golden Eagles opened up the second quarter on a 13-4 run to go up 34-18 led by four points from Nordick. Bemidji State would get the lead down to 10 with 1:19 left on a Sheley trey. The Golden Eagles would end the first half as Nordick went 1-of-2 from the charity stripe as the Golden Eagles went into the break with a 38-27 lead.

Minnesota Crookston was led by an outstanding first half from Nordick, who was 6-of-6 from the field and 2-of-4 from the charity stripe to finish with 14 points and six boards. Gruber added six points and three boards, while Odor came off the bench for six. The Golden Eagles were 16-of-27 from the field for 55.6 percent and 2-of-5 for 40 percent from beyond the arc.

Bemidji State was led by 10 points from  Sheley. The Beavers were 12-of-32 for 37.5 percent from the field and 3-of-9 for 33.3 percent from beyond the arc.

The Beavers would be able to cut the lead to 42-39 in the third quarter as they went on a 12-4 run led by three treys from Zerr. BSU would get it to a two-point deficit, but the Golden Eagles would go on an 11-3 run to take a 55-45 lead into the fourth quarter. The Golden Eagle run was led by four points from Gruber.

Bemidji State wouldn't give up though. The Golden Eagles would get their lead out to 12 with 6:02 left in the game on a Nordick lay-up, but a 10-0 run led by seven points from Sheley would but the Beavers within two (64-62) with 3:24 left in the game.

Nordick, who had already had a magnificent game, came up with a big play in a big moment as she drove the lane and made the bucket and got fouled. Nordick would hit the shot to put the Golden Eagles up 67-62 with 2:14 remaining. Bemidji State would continue to try to make a charge but UMC would continue to hold off their rivals from 88 mile down Highway 2, coming away with the 81-74 win.

The Golden Eagles will play University of Mary Jan. 2 and Minot State University Jan. 3 when they return from the Holiday break.

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 a NCAA Division II university located in the Red River Valley of Northwest Minnesota. UMC sponsors 11 intercollegiate athletic teams with membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate conference (NSIC) and the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). The NSIC is a 16-team conference with schools situated in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska.
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