DULUTH, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team would make a late charge, but would ultimately fall short in an 84-77 loss to University of Minnesota Duluth at Romano Gymnasium. The Golden Eagles would get within six points, but second-chance opportunities and a 17-1 run in the second quarter would lead the Bulldogs to the win.

Minnesota Crookston is still looking to get into the win column as they fall to 0-6 (0-2 NSIC) with the loss. They are still looking for consistency as the young squad that does not have a senior continues to figure out an identity. Minnesota Duluth improves to 2-3 (1-1 NSIC) with Saturday's win.

The Golden Eagles were led on the night by Emily Gruber (Jr., F/C, Monticello, Minn.), who would finish with 13 points and six rebounds. Gruber was 5-of-7 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Alison Hughes (So., G, Janesville, Wis.) would add 15, but would only shoot 3-of-9 from the field. She made up for it at the charity stripe as she was 9-of-9. Micaela Noga (Jr., G, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) added 12 points, while Isieoma Odor (R-So., F/C, Bloomington, Minn.) had 12 points and six rebounds.

The Golden Eagles would out-score UMD 45-37 in the second half. They shot 25-of-54 for 46.3 percent for the game and were 11-of-20 for 55 percent from beyond the arc. They were 16-of-18 from the charity stripe for 88.9 percent.
Minnesota Crookston finished with 12 turnovers and was controlled on the boards by the tune of 41-30. The Golden Eagles would give up 18 offensive rebounds.

Minnesota Duluth was led by Taylor Meyer's double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds. Sammy Koslowski added 19 points, while Josie Buckley came off the bench for 15 points and seven boards.

UMD shot 34-of-72 for 47.2 percent from the field. They were 5-of-10 for 50 percent on three-pointers.

Minnesota Crookston would get out to an early 6-5 advantage as Noga hit a pair of free throws at the 7:25 mark in the first quarter. UMC would extend their lead to 11-7 as Caitlin Michaelis (So., G, Marshfield, Wis.) converted an old-fashioned three-point play for the Golden Eagles, followed by an Odor put-back of a missed shot. 

UMD would fight back and knot it up at 12-12 as Orr hit a three-pointer just as the shot-clock buzzer went off. A pair of back-to-back Meyer jumpers for the Bulldogs would tip the score in their favor 16-12. 

The Golden Eagles would pull back within two at 18-16 as Gruber got the offensive rebound and a put-back late in the first quarter. However, Kenzie Kane would answer with a jumper of her own to push it out to 20-16 in favor of the Bulldogs going into the quarter break. 

The Bulldogs would be able to start the second quarter off strong to take a 24-19 lead on a Kozlowski jumper. The Golden Eagles would come right back as Hughes went up in a crowd, was fouled and made the basket. She would convert the old-fashioned three-point play to get UMC within two at 24-22 with 7:50 left in the half. Minnesota Crookston would take the lead (25-24) with 7:10 left as Gruber would connect on a three-pointer.

However, UMD would come right back and would take the advantage back. UMD would be able to put their lead out to 41-26 after going on a 17-1 run. UMC would finally be able to stop the run as Michaelis hit a three from the wing to get the Golden Eagles back within 12 at 41-29.

The Bulldogs would be able to push their lead out to 47-32 at the break as Buckley made a lay-up as the buzzer sounded. 

Minnesota Crookston would shoot 11-of-28 from the field for 39.3 percent. They were 4-of-9 from beyond the arc for 44.4 percent. UMC looked to eight points from Gruber to lead the way. Michaelis added six points, while Hughes had five. The Golden Eagles would struggle to hold on to the ball in the first half as they had just four assists and nine turnovers. Consequently, UMD would come away with 11 points off of turnovers. 

The Bulldogs had a strong first half, going 21-of-39 for 53.8 percent. They were 3-of-5 from beyond the arc for 60 percent. UMD was led by 14 points from Kozlowski on 6-of-8 from the field. Buckley added nine points and five boards off the bench, while Meyer had eight points and five rebounds.

The Golden Eagles would come out of the break strong and they would be able to cut the deficit to nine (49-40) led by three-pointers from Michaelis and Noga. The Bulldogs would quickly come back and get their lead back out to 56-40 on a Meyer jumper. UMC would be able to make a little dent in the lead with a Kelsey Stinson trey to get within 13 at 60-47. The Golden Eagles would end up going into the break down 12 (64-52) to UMD.

Early in the fourth, UMD would be able to push their lead back out to 16. However, UMC would fight their way back again led by three-pointers from Gruber and Noga to get within 10 (72-62). An Odor lay-up would get Minnesota Crookston back to a single-digit deficit (eight) with 5:45 left in the game.

UMD would bounce back with a Buckley three to push the lead back out to 75-64 with just over five minutes left in the game. 

The Golden Eagles would pull back to within eight (77-69) as Noga found Stinson on the win for a three. UMD would come back with a put-back of a miss from Buckley to push their lead back out to 10 (79-69) with 2:35 remaining in the contest.

A pair of Odor free throws with 2:29 remaining would put UMC back within eight points (79-71) of their counterparts. Meyer would come back on the other end for UMD and connect on a pair of free throws to push the lead back out to 81-71 with 2:17 left.

An Odor jumper on the wing would move it back to eight with just under two minutes left in the game. After a defensive stop, Hughes would be fouled driving to the lane. She would go 2-of-2 from the charity stripe as the Golden Eagles got within six (81-75) with 1:32 left in the game.

After another crucial defensive stop, Kitri Zezza (Fr., G, Albertville, Minn.) would drive the lane quickly to get UMC within four (81-77) with a minute remaining. 

After a miss, Anna Monke would get the offensive rebound and would be fouled, sending her to the line. Monke would go 1-of-2 from the line, but Kane would get the offensive board. UMC would be forced to foul Orr, who would hit both free throws to make it 84-77 with 19 seconds left. 

Minnesota Crookston will return home to face Minnesota State University Moorhead Fri., Dec. 9 at 6 p.m.