SAN ANTONIO, Texas – A fourth quarter rally would not be enough as the University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team fell 70-57 to Saint Mary's University (Texas) Sat., Nov. 26 at Bill Greehey Arena in San Antonio, Texas.

Minnesota Crookston finishes their non-conference slate with a 0-4 mark as they wrap up the St. Mary's Thanksgiving Classic with a 0-2 mark. The Golden Eagles played a very tough non-conference slate against teams with a combined record of 18-4.

The Golden Eagles would outscore the Rattlers 25-23 in the fourth quarter but it would not be enough to overcome what St. Mary's did in the first and third quarters. The Rattlers would outscore UMC 16-10 in the first quarter and 22-14 in the third quarter.

Minnesota Crookston was led by Alison Hughes (So., G, Janesville, Wis.), who had 18 points on 5-of-12 from the field and 3-of-8 from beyond the arc. Isieoma Odor (R-So., F/C, Bloomington, Minn.) would finish with 11 points and nine rebounds. 

The Golden Eagles continue to struggle to get consistency out of their other players as Hughes and Odor have accounted for 21.7 points per game for UMC this season. Kitri Zezza (Fr., G, Albertville, Minn.) came off the bench for seven points and five rebounds, while Caitlin Michaelis (So., G, Marshfield, Wis.) had five points and five boards. 

The Golden Eagles would struggle shooting on the day as they were just 16-of-59 for 27.1 percent from the field. They also struggled from beyond the arc as they connected on just 6-of-24 for 17.6 percent.

UMC would finish with 15 turnovers on the game. They were even on rebounds with St. Mary's as both teams had 44. Minnesota Crookston went 19-of-26 for 73.1 percent from the charity stripe.

St. Mary's would look to 26 points from Kiana Etheridge on 9-of-13 from the field. She would have a double-double with 11 rebounds on the game. Kealani Marquez added 12 points and six boards, while Arysia Porter had 11 points and seven rebounds.

The Rattlers were 25-of-60 from the field for 41.7 percent and just 3-of-14 for 21.4 percent from three-point range. 

St. Mary's would take a 16-6 lead out of the gate after a Marquez jumper with 2:20 left in the first quarter. UMC would end the second quarter on a 4-0 run culminating with a Michaelis jumper to get within 16-10.

UMC would start out the second quarter strong and would get within 18-15 after a pair of Odor free throws with 5:29 left in the half. This time St. Mary's would finish the quarter on a 4-0 run with a pair of Etheridge buckets to make it 25-18 going into the break.

The Rattlers would come out of the half on an 18-4 run to extend their advantage to 21 points at 43-22 with 3:37 left in the period. UMC would end the frame on a strong note led by eight points from Hughes to get the Golden Eagles within 15 points (47-32) going into the fourth quarter.

UMC would start out the fourth quarter on a 12-3 run to cut the deficit to 50-44 with 5:12 left in the game. A Porter three and a Tia Mason bucket would push the Rattlers back out to a 55-44 lead with 4:23 left in the game.

The Golden Eagles wouldn't go away as they would get within eight points (61-53) on a pair of Amber Schoenicke (Fr., F/C, Marshall, Wis.) free throws. It would be too late for UMC as the Rattlers went 7-of-8 from the charity stripe down the stretch to close out the win.

Minnesota Crookston will open up conference play Fri., Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. at St. Cloud State University.