CROOKSTON, Minn.- In a game dedicated to KROX radio personality Matt Bishop, who is battling Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team beat Minot State University 78-62 to tie their single-season wins record. It was a performance to be proud of at Lysaker Gymnasium. As usual, the Golden Eagles rode the three-point shot to the finish, ending the game with 29 attempts and 12 makes.
 
The Golden Eagles moved to 16-7 (13-6 NSIC) with Friday's win, which tied the 2004-05 mark for wins in a season. Minot State falls to 9-16 (6-13 NSIC) with the loss. UMC is now alone in third place heading into the final three regular-season games, a game behind Minnesota State University Moorhead and Northern State University in first.
 
Alison Hughes (Fr., G, Janesville, Wis./Early Childhood Education) led the way from beyond the arc with five threes. She was one of four players in double figures with 17 points on 6-of-11 from the field and 5-of-9 from beyond the arc.
 
Isieoma Odor (R-Fr., F/C, Bloomington, Minn./Health Management) had a big game on both ends of the floor. Her 15 points was second on the team and she also had seven rebounds and two blocks. Odor is coming into her own, averaging 16.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game over the last three contests for the Golden Eagles.
 
Katrina Nordick (Sr., F, Perham, Minn./Applied Studies) had another balanced game in which she was a great facilitator. Nordick had 12 points, five rebounds and a team-leading eight assists. Nordick is averaging 7.5 assists over the last two games. Emily Gruber (So., F, Monticello, Minn./Communication) rounded out the double-figure scoring with 11 points. Nordick needs just 16 boards now to surpass Laurie Tyson's career rebound record.
 
The Golden Eagles were 29-of-57 for 50.9 percent from the field, 12-of-29 for 41.4 percent from beyond the arc and 8-of-11 for 72.7 from the charity stripe.
 
Minot State struggled on the boards, but Sarah Lester was a bright spot for the Beavers. She had six boards to go with her 15 points. Kari Clements came off the bench for 10.
 
The Beavers were 27-of-66 for 40.9 percent from the field, 8-of-21 for 38.1 percent from beyond the arc and just 0-for-1 from the charity stripe.
 
Hughes started the game off right for the Golden Eagles by draining a three on their first possession. She ended the first quarter with eight points in a back and forth quarter, 17-15 UMC.
 
It did not take her long in the second half to hit another three, and this one extended the Golden Eagle lead to seven. UMC built on this lead and went into the halftime break with a 38-26 lead.
 
The Golden Eagles ran away with the game in the second half. At the end of the third quarter they had a 57-42 lead.
 
In one of her last games as a Golden Eagle, Megan Taylor (Sr., F/C, Estelline, S.D./Animal Science) made a statement in the fourth quarter with six points, two rebounds, and two blocks en route to the 78-62 win.
 
Tomorrow, UMC takes on the University of Mary in their regular-season, home season finale at Lysaker Gymnasium. It is a 4 p.m. tipoff as the Golden Eagles continue their push for a high seed in the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament. UMC is already guaranteed a first round playoff game, their second-ever in any sport, Wed., Feb. 24 at Lysaker Gymnasium.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

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The University of Minnesota Crookston is a NCAA Division II university located in the Red River Valley of Northwest Minnesota. UMC sponsors 11 intercollegiate athletic teams with membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate conference (NSIC) and the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). The NSIC is a 16-team conference with schools situated in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska.