CROOKSTON, Minn.- The University of Minnesota Crookston struggled to find a rhythm as they fell 68-52 to Northern State University, the first-place team in the NSIC North Division. The Golden Eagles fall to 12-13 (11-10 NSIC). The Wolves improve to 21-6 (15-6 NSIC).

UMC was battling to secure home court in the first round of the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament Wed., Feb. 25. The Golden Eagles are currently in a tie for third with St. Cloud State University. A UMC win over Minnesota State University Moorhead or a University of Minnesota Duluth loss to Minot State University would guarantee UMC home court Wednesday. A UMD win and a UMC loss would give the fourth seed to UMD, with the Golden Eagles heading to Sioux Falls, S.D. to face either Augustana College (S.D.) or
University of Sioux Falls. A UMC win and a St. Cloud State University loss to University of Mary would give the Golden Eagles the No. 3 seed.

UMC was led on the game by Katrina Moenkedick (Jr., F, Perham, Minn./Applied Studies), who had 14 points and five rebounds on 5-of-19 shooting from the field. She was 2-of-2 from beyond the arc. Ebony Livingston (Sr., G/F, Minneapolis, Minn./Sports and Rec Management) added 12 points and two boards, while Micaela Noga (Fr., G, Parkers Prairie, Minn./Health Management), had eight points, eight boards and four assists.

The Golden Eagles shot 19-of-60 from the field for 31.7 percent and were 9-of-23 for 39.1 percent from beyond the arc.

The story for the game for Northern State was the glass, as they dominated UMC 49-29 with 15 offensive rebounds. Rachel Krogman led the Wolves with 20 points and 14 rebounds. Megan Mutchler added 16 points and five rebounds. The Wolves were 25-of-58 for 43.1 percent from the field and 2-of-7 for 28.6 percent from behind the three-point line.

The Golden Eagles would hold it close early on, as they would pull to within two going into the half on a Noga trey. However, the second half woes would doom UMC. The Golden Eagles shot just 9-of-30 for 30 percent on the second half.

The Wolves would open the second half on a 9-3 run led by a Paige Waytashek three as Northern State would lead 38-30 with 17:53 left in the game. The Golden Eagles would hold it under 10 for awhile, but an 11-0 run would push their lead from seven to 55-37 (18) with 8:48 left in the game and the Wolves wouldn't look back from there.

The Golden Eagles will wrap up the regular- season Sat., Feb. 21 as they host "Red River Valley" rival
Minnesota State University Moorhead at 4 p.m. at Lysaker Gymnasium. UMC will also have Senior Day as they honor four seniors who have meant a lot to the program in Livingston, Ashley Martell (Sr., G, Somerset, Wis./Health Science), Kenzie Church (Sr., F, Fairmount, N.D./Management) and Erika McRoberts (Jr., F/C, Byron, Minn./Health Science), who has seen her career end due to injury problems.

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).