MARQUETTE, Mich.. – A 14-5 fourth quarter run would send Northern Michigan University to a 63-60 win over the University of Minnesota Crookston at Berry Events Center in Marquette, Mich. The Golden Eagles would go into the fourth quarter with a 50-47 lead, but the Wildcats would control the fourth quarter led by the go-ahead free throw from Erin Honkala and a lay-up from Darby Youngren in the final 1:10.

Minnesota Crookston starts out the season with a 0-2 mark. Northern Michigan  moved to 3-1 to start the season after the win in Saturday's thriller.

The Golden Eagles would go 20-of-60 for 33.3 percent from the field and 9-of-27 for 33.3 percent from beyond the arc. Minnesota Crookston looked to Alison Hughes (So., G, Janesville, Wis.), who had a strong weekend for the Golden Eagles. Hughes had 16 points on 5-of-9 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Hughes would add five rebounds. 
Isieoma Odor (R-So., F/C, Bloomington, Minn.) chipped in nine points and six boards. Kelsey Stinson (Fr., G/F, Cottage Grove, Wis.) chipped in eight points off the bench on 3-of-7 from the field.

Micaela Noga (Jr., G, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) and Caitlin Michaelis (So., G, Marshfield, Wis.) each would add six points.

UMC would win the rebound battle 41-38. They would have just nine turnovers on the game.
Northern Michigan, a team with a lot of length with four players over 5-10, shot 22-of-59 for 37.3 percent from the field. The Wildcats were 6-of-17 from beyond the arc for 35.3 percent. They were 13-of-15 for 86.7 percent from the charity stripe.

Northern Michigan looked to 16 points from Darby Youngstrom on 5-of-8 from the field. Chloe Tompkins chipped in 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists. She was 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. Erin Honkala would come off the bench for 14 points and seven boards.

Northern Michigan would have a big first quarter as they would have the 19-8 lead after Bre Gaspervich went 1-of-2 from the charity stripe.

Minnesota Crookston would respond with a big second quarter as they would out-score the Wildcats 18-7 to knot it up 26-26 at the break. UMC would look to seven points from Hughes and five points from Stinson.

The Golden Eagles would come out of the break strong and would lead 50-47 after out-scoring Northern Michigan 24-21.

UMC would start the fourth quarter on a 5-2 run led by a Noga three as it would be 55-49 with 7:29 remaining. Northern Michigan would be able to respond and would knot it up 55-55 after Tompkins and Sydney Dillinger hit back-to-back three-pointers. The Wildcats would take a 60-57 advantage with 2:20 remaining as Youngstrom hit an old-fashioned three-point play. The Golden Eagles would not go away and would tie it up 60-60 following free throws from Odor and Emily Gruber (Jr., F/C, Monticello, Minn.). Down the stretch, Northern Michigan would be able to come up in the clutch. Honkala would go 1-of-2 from the charity stripe. After a missed Odor jumper, Youngstrom would make a lay-up to go up 63-60 with 18 seconds left.

Hughes would miss a three with six seconds left, but Michaelis would get the offensive board. Noga would get one final shot up as UMC looked to tie, but it would be missed as Northern Michigan would win 63-60.

Minnesota Crookston will continue a tough non-conference schedule as they head to San Antonio, Texas next weekend. UMC will take on Angelo State Fri., Nov. 25 at 2 p.m. and St. Mary's University (Texas) Sat., Nov. 26 at 4 p.m.