ST. CLOUD, Minn. -   The St. Cloud State University women's basketball team outscored the University of Minnesota Crookston 39-28 in the second half to pick up the 75-62 victory on Fri., Dec. 2 in St. Cloud, Minn. The Golden Eagles were down just two at the half to St. Cloud State but would struggle defensively in the second half allowing the Huskies to shoot 12-of-26 for 46.1 percent.

Friday's game was the conference opener for the Golden Eagles. They fall to 0-5 on the season as they continue to search for their first victory. St. Cloud State improved to 4-2 (2-0 NSIC) with the win.

Minnesota Crookston would have more balance in Friday's games then they had been able to find in their first five outings. The Golden Eagles had four players in double-figures on the evening. Isieoma Odor (R-So., F/C, Bloomington, Minn.) led the way with a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds. She shot 5-of-11 from the field. Alison Hughes added 15 points, including going 3-of-8 from beyond the arc. Kelsey Stinson put forth her best effort of her young career with 12 points on 4-of-8 from behind the three-point line off the bench. Micaela Noga (Jr., G, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) added 10 points. 

The Golden Eagles would go 20-of-55 from the field for 36.4 percent and 10-of-33 for 30.3 percent from beyond the arc.

The guard play for the Huskies ruled the roost led by Betsy MacDonald finished with 15 points on 6-of-15 from the field and 3-of-9 from beyond the arc. Mallie Doucette would have a big game off the bench with 11 points on 3-of-4 from behind the three-point line. Amanda Christianson added 14 points on 5-of-7 from the field. 

The Huskies would go 26-of-54 for 48.1 percent from the field. They would have great range on the evening finishing 12-of-24 for 50 percent.

UMC would control the boards on the night 39-25.

The Huskies would start out the game strong as they would get out to an 8-2 lead on UMC after a Christianson jumper with 7:39 left in the first quarter. The Golden Eagles would get into it after a slow start as they closed to within one point (12-11) following a Stinson three-pointer.

St. Cloud State would be able to push their advantage back out to 17-11 following a McKenna Happke jumper and a Madelin Dammann trey. They would be able to extend their lead to 25-15 on a Doucette three-pointer with eight seconds left in the quarter, which would be their lead going into the second frame.

SCSU would get their lead out to a high of 11 early in the second quarter but the Golden Eagles would get going from there. The Golden Eagles used a 10-0 run to get within one point (30-29) led by five points from Hughes. St. Cloud State would fight back and push the lead back out to 36-29 after treys from Doucette and Dammann. UMC would close out the half on a positive note as they went on a 5-0 run led by a Hughes trey to make it 36-34 going into the break.

The Golden Eagles were led in the first half by Hughes and Noga, who each had eight points. Odor would also chip in eight points and matched that total with eight rebounds. She was a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. Kitri Zezza (Fr., G, Albertville, Minn.) came off the bench for two, while Stinson had three.

UMC was 11-of-33 from the field for 33.3 percent and 6-of-22 for 27.3 percent from beyond the arc. Minnesota Crookston would do a phenomenal job moving the ball around as they had nine assists on 11 made baskets. 

St. Cloud State was led by 10 points from MacDonald on 4-of-7 from the field and 2-of-4 from beyond the arc. Dammann and Doucette each came off the bench for six. The Huskies were 14-of-28 from the field for 50 percent and 6-of-12 from beyond the arc for 50 percent. 

Minnesota Crookston would dominate the boards by the tune of 24-12 in the first half. 

The Huskies would start out the second half on a strong note as they would outscore Minnesota Crookston 12-5 to take a 48-39 advantage with 6:10 left in the third quarter. Minnesota Crookston would be able to make up some ground led by a Stinson trey to make it 48-42 with 4:51 left in the third quarter.

St. Cloud State would be able to take their lead out to 53-44 on a Doucette three with 3:57 left in the quarter. They extend their advantage to 57-46 on a MacDonald pull-up jumper with just under two minutes left in the frame. A Christianson trey near the end of the quarter would make it 62-48 in favor of the Huskies going into the quarter break. The Huskies would outscore the Golden Eagles 21-12 in the frame.

A three from MacDonald would extend the St. Cloud State lead to 65-48 to open up the fourth quarter. The St. Cloud State Huskies would be able to extend their lead to 20 points (70-50) on a Mackenzie Uter three. They would be able to make up the gap led by four points from Odor and two Stinson treys to make it 70-58 with just over four minutes left in the contest.

The Golden Eagles would be able to get the deficit down to 10 as Hughes connected on a pair of free throws to make it 72-62 with 2:32 left in the game. However, St. Cloud State closed out the game strong to fend off any UMC idea of a comeback as they picked up the 75-62 win.

Minnesota Crookston will return to action Sat., Dec. 3 at 4 p.m. as they take on University of Minnesota Duluth in Duluth, Minn.