CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team dropped Saturday's game to Northern State University 78-65. Northern State looked to a great performance from Paige Waytashek who scored 22 of their 78 points, had three defensive rebounds and two assists. Miranda Ristau and Jill Conrad also put up double-figures with 18 and 19 points respectively.

UMC had three players in double figures as well. Caitlin Michaelis (So., G, Marshfield, Wis.) with 10, Kitri Zezza (Fr., G, Albertville, Minn.) with 11 and Kelsey Stinson (Fr., G/F, Cottage Grove, Wis.) with 11. The Golden Eagles shot just 38 percent from the field and 27 percent from beyond the arc. The Wolves shot 50 percent from the field and 38 percent from beyond the arc. UMC picked up 31 points from their bench. NSU picked up 19 points from their bench.

The Golden Eagles are still looking for their first win as they fall to 0-8 on the season and 0-4 in the NSIC. The Wolves improve to 8-1 on the season and 4-1 in the NSIC.

Northern State shot 30-of-60 for 50 percent from the field. The Wolves were 3-of-8 for 37.5 percent from beyond the arc. Northern State struggled from the charity stripe, shooting just 15-of-25 for 60 percent.

The Wolves controlled the boards, out-rebounding the Golden Eagles 44-34

Waytashek would score the first points of the game with her jumper. Michaelis shot a layup on the other side to tie the game up. Emily Gruber (Jr., F/C, Monticello, Minn.) picked up her second layup of the night allowing the Golden Eagles to pull within two and bring the score to UMC 7 NSU 5. Brianna Kusler's layup put the Wolves on a 6-0 run halfway through the first quarter to put the Wolves up 11-7. Zezza ended the Northern State run with a three pointer to cut the lead to 11-10. Waytashek responded with a jumper for two and started another 6-0 run for the Wolves that included a layup and jumper by Anika Fredrick to make it 17-10. 

Michaelis's three ended the Wolves' run and cut the lead to four (17-13). The Wolves would go into the second quarter up 21-16.

Stinson opened up the second with a three for UMC to get the Golden Eagles within 21-19. Waytashek went on a 6-0 run against the Golden Eagles that included two free throws, a jumper and a layup to push the Wolves back out to a 27-19 lead. Ristau's layup brought their run to 8-0 before a free throw by Michaelis ended it. Northern State would be able to extend their advantage to 12 on a pair of Jill Conrad free throws. Alison Hughes's two free throws and a jumper by Stinson cut the lead to eight at 36-28. Waytashek would respond with a clutch three to push the lead back out to 11 at 39-28 for the Wolves. A free throw by Zezza, a layup by Michaelis and a layup by Zezza cut the Wolves lead to 39-33 with 1:56 left in the second quarter. A couple of free throws by Fredrick and a layup by Conrad gave the Wolves a 46-35 lead going into the half.

A layup by Ristau started the third quarter and continued the Wolves' 8-0 run to make it 48-35. Micaela Noga (Jr., G, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) would end the Northern State run with a layup. Northern State would be able to extend their lead to 15 on another Ristau basket. The lead would stay at 15 going into the quarter break as the Wolves led 64-49.

The Wolves would extend their lead to 19 on a Ristau bucket with 8:04 led in the game. UMC would then come back and be able to close the lead to 14 on a Noga layup with 6:02 left in the game. The Golden Eagles would stay right with the Wolves for the fourth quarter but they could only get the lead down to 13 as they would be unable to overcome Northern State.

Minnesota Crookston will return to action Thurs., Dec. 15 at 5 p.m. against Bemidji State University.