Box Score WINONA, Minn. – A big first half would propel No. 16 Winona State University to an 80-56 win over the University of Minnesota Crookston Fri., Dec. 30 at McCown Gymnasium. The Golden Eagles would fall behind 39-22 at the half but would get within 11 points in the third quarter. However, Winona State would close the game on a 20-9 run to hold on for the victory.

Minnesota Crookston falls to 1-9 (1-5 NSIC) with the loss on Friday. Winona State improves to 11-2 (6-1 NSIC) with the win.

Minnesota Crookston was led by a season-best 20 points from Micaela Noga (Jr., G, Parkers Prairie, Minn.), who was on fire for the night for the Golden Eagles. Noga was 8-of-11 from the field and 4-of-7 from behind the three-point line.

Emily Gruber (Jr., F, Monticello, Minn.) added eight points, while Caitlin Michaelis (So., G, Marshfield, Wis.) and Kelsey Stinson (Fr., G/F, Cottage Grove, Wis.) each had six points.
The Golden Eagles were 18-of-52  from the field for 34.6 percent from the field. UMC had a good night from beyond the arc as they connected on 11-of-33 three-pointers for 33.3 percent.
Winona State finished with four players in double figures on the evening. Jenny Tuttle led the way with 17 points on 7-of-10 from the field. Tara Roelofs chipped in 14 points, while Hannah McGlone had a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds. Kayla Timmerman chipped in 10.

The Warriors were 33-of-58 for 56.9 percent from the field. They shot just nine three-pointers and hit three of them on the night for 33.3 percent.

The Golden Eagles and Warriors would be knotted up 4-4 early on after a Noga jumper. From there, Winona State would go on a 7-0 run led by a Hannah McGlone old-fashioned three-point play as they made it 11-4 in the first quarter. The Warriors would be able to extend their advantage to 17-6 after a Roelofs jumper.

Minnesota Crookston would counter and would get within 17-11 after a pair of Gruber free throws with 2:01 left in the first quarter. The Warriors would respond and get four-straight points to make it 21-11 going into the break after a Jenny Weiland jumper.

Kelsey Stinson would come up with a big trey out of the break to cut the lead to 21-14. However, Winona State responded with a 8-0 run, making it 29-14 after a McGlone bucket. The Warriors would go into the half up 39-22 on the Golden Eagles.

Minnesota Crookston would be led by eight points on 4-of-6 from the field by Noga. Stinson would add six points off of the bench. UMC was 8-of-27 for 29.6 percent from the field.

Winona State looked to 15 points from Tuttle on 6-of-8 from the field. McGlone added seven points and five boards. The Warriors were 17-of-33 from the field for 51.5 percent from the field.
The Golden Eagles would close to within 15 points early in the third quarter after a Noga three-pointer with 5:41 left in the third quarter. UMC would continue to piece away at the lead as they got within 13 at 45-32 after a pair of Hughes free throws.

The Warriors would respond with a Kayla Timmerman bucket to make it 47-32, but the Golden Eagles came right back as Noga continued her big night with a three-pointer to cut the lead to 47-35 with 3:30 left in the third quarter. A Weiland layup for the Warriors would push it out to 49-35, but Noga again struck for the Golden Eagles with another trey to cut it to 49-38.

The Warriors would be able to push their lead out to 56-40 after jumpers from Weiland and Roelofs. Gruber would hit a pair of free throws to get UMC within 56-42 heading into the break.
The Golden Eagles would cut the Winona State lead to 56-44 after a Gruber bucket to open the fourth quarter. The Warriors would respond with four-consecutive points from Roelofs to push the advantage out to 60-44. Caitlin Michaelis would respond with a big shot for UMC to get the game within 60-47 with 6:51 left in the game.

Winona State would take the game over from there, led by a 9-0 run to push the advantage out to 22 (69-47). The Golden Eagles cut the lead back down to 19 as Kitri Zezza nailed a trey with 4:39 left in the game. Winona State would close the game on an 18-9 run as they picked up a 78-56 win over Minnesota Crookston.

The Golden Eagles will conclude the calendar year on Sat., Dec. 31 as they take on Upper Iowa University at 4 p.m. at Dorman Gymnasium in Fayette, Iowa.