MINOT, N.D. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team picked up their fifth-straight win with a 63-43 trouncing of Minot State University Sun., Jan. 3 at the MSU Dome in Minot, N.D. The Golden Eagles were led by a double-double from Alexa Thielman (Sr., G, Buffalo, Minn./Health Science), who had 17 points and 10 rebounds including five three-pointers. Her fifth three-pointer tied her with Amy Kuznia (2000-04) for the all-time record for three-pointers in a career with 188.

The Golden Eagles were led by an outstanding fourth quarter in which they out-scored the Beavers 24-9.

The Golden Eagles moved to 9-3 (6-2 NSIC) with Sunday's win over Minot State. They are one win shy of their 10^th win as they seek to hit the mark the fastest the program ever has. The Golden Eagles are tied with second in the NSIC North with Northern State University, behind only St. Cloud State University.
Minot State falls to 7-7 (4-4 NSIC) with Sunday's loss.

Thielman led the Golden Eagles, going 5-of-12 from the field, 5-of-10 from beyond the arc and 2-of-2 from the charity stripe. Katrina Nordick (Sr., F, Perham, Minn./Applied Studies) continued her strong play with 14 points and eight boards. Emily Gruber (So., F/C, Monticello, Minn./Communications) chipped in 11 points and five boards. Nordick finished the weekend averaging 19 points and 7.5 rebounds.

The Golden Eagles were 22-of-59 for 37.3 percent for the game and 9-of-27 for 33.3 percent from beyond the arc. UMC finished 10-of-12 for 83.3 percent from the charity stripe. They dominated the boards by the tune of 47-38.

The Beavers looked to seven points from Kori Eurich, while Savana Kingsbury, their 6-3 post was neutralized from the field, going 0-of-5 for the game and scoring all of her points from the free-throw line. Kingsbury had six points and nine boards.

Minot State was 15-of-63 for just 23.8 percent on the game. In addition, they struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 3-of-22 for 13.6 percent and were 10-of-10 from the charity stripe.

The Golden Eagles would lead by as much as six (20-14) with 3:24 left in the second quarter, but a 5-1 run to end the second quarter would put the Beavers within two (21-19) at the break.

Minnesota Crookston was led in the first half by Micaela Noga (So., G, Parkers Prairie, Minn./Health Management), who had seven points and four boards. Nordick added six points and four boards, while Thielman had three points and eight boards.

Minot State had eight players score in the first half led by four points from Eurich.

The Beavers would knot up the game 30-30 mid-way through the third quarter on a Sarah Lester lay-up. However, the Golden Eagles would fight back and go on an 8-0 run to push the lead to 38-30 led by five points from Thielman and a three from Caitlin Michaelis (Fr., G, Marshfield, Wis.). The Golden Eagles would go into the quarter break with a 39-32 lead led by Thielman's 11 points and 10 boards.

UMC would take over from there and out-score the Beavers 24-9 in the fourth quarter led by Thielman's fourth and fifth three-pointers of the game, which would help the senior tie Amy Kuznia for the all-time record for career three-pointers with 188. The Golden Eagles would take the 63-43 victory.

The Golden Eagles will return home to face St. Cloud State University Sat., Jan. 9 at 2 p.m. and University of Minnesota Duluth Sun., Jan. 10 at 1 p.m. The games are two UMC wants back after losing both on the road earlier this season. In addition, the St. Cloud State game is a big game as the Huskies are currently in first place ahead of UMC.

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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