CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team set the single-season win mark Saturday with an 83-72 victory over University of Mary at Lysaker Gymnasium. The victory moves UMC to 17-7 (14-6 NSIC) and they will have their fate in their own hands entering the final weekend of regular-season play. The Golden Eagles are currently alone in third in the NSIC North, one game behind Minnesota State University Moorhead and Northern State University in first, who they will play on the road next weekend.

U-Mary falls to 13-15 (7-13 NSIC) with Saturday's loss. The game marked Senior Day for the Golden Eagles as they honored three influential seniors who have helped to turn the Golden Eagles into a contender in the NSIC North. Katrina Nordick (Sr., F, Perham, Minn./Applied Studies), Megan Taylor (Sr., F/C, Estelline, S.D./Animal Science) and Alexa Thielman (Sr., G, Buffalo, Minn./Health Science) have been integral parts of UMC earning two-straight home playoff games, the first-ever for any playoff games for any sport.

UMC was led on the night by Nordick, who saved one of her best games as a Golden Eagle for one of her last times playing at Lysaker Gymnasium. The senior had 25 points and 11 rebounds on 9-of-17 from the field and 6-of-7 from the charity stripe. Micaela Noga (So., G, Parkers Prairie, Minn./Health Management) had a big game with 17 points and seven rebounds on 6-of-13 from the field, while Emily Gruber (So., F/C, Monticello, Minn./Communication) added 13 points.

The Golden Eagles also got a strong contribution from senior Thielman, who didn't see her shot fall, but helped out in a lot of crucial ways on the boards and by finding her teammates. Thielman finished with nine points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals. Taylor didn't score Saturday but did play in one minute.

Minnesota Crookston was 28-of-62 for 45.2 percent from the field. In addition, they were 6-of-21 for 28.6 percent from beyond the arc. They were strong from the charity stripe, going 21-of-27 for 77.7 percent. In addition, they won the rebound battle 40-44.

UMC shut down the NSIC's leading scorer Brittney Dietz in terms of shooting. Dietz had just six points on 1-of-10 from the field. However, she did add eight boards and eight assists. The Marauders got a big game out of Hannah Larson, who was 10-of-22 from the field with 27 points and six rebounds. Off the bench, Haley Hibbs had a big night with 23 points on 7-of-15 from beyond the arc, including seven treys.

The Marauders were 25-of-71 for 35.2 percent from the field. In addition, they went 14-of-37 for 37.8 percent from beyond the arc and 8-of-10 for 80 percent from the free throw line.

U-Mary got out to an early 11-7 lead after a Rachel Weir lay-up with 5:46 remaining. Still down 13-10, UMC would use a jumper from Isieoma Odor (R-Fr., F/C, Bloomington, Minn./Health Management) and a three from Nordick to go up 15-13 with 2:38 left in the first quarter. Hibbs would answer for the Marauders with a three of her own to put U-Mary up 16-15 with 1:34 remaining. However, UMC would answer with a 6-0 run to go up 21-16 following a Gruber lay-up. The Golden Eagles would go into the quarter break up 23-18.

UMC would control the second quarter and get up to a 44-27 lead following a Thielman trey. Dietz would cut the lead to 44-30 with a three of her own going into half time.

The Golden Eagles would control most of the third, leading 58-44 with 2:36 left following a Nordick lay-up. But the Marauders wouldn't go away as they went on a 6-0 run cutting the lead to 58-50 on a Hayley Niles jumper. Noga would hit a jumper to put UMC up 60-50 going into the fourth quarter.

Three-pointers from Hibbs and Larson would help U-Mary cut the lead to four points (65-61) with 4:52 left in the game, but UMC would answer as they went on a 5-0 run to go up 70-61 on an Alison Hughes (Fr., G, Janesville, Minn./Early Childhood Education) bucket with 3:42 remaining. The Golden Eagles would hang on from there as they were able to give proper exits on Senior Night to Thielman, Nordick and Taylor who have been so integral to the success of the UMC women's basketball program.

Thielman is heading into the final stretch of her career with 1,377 career points, which ranks fourth all-time. In addition, she has 424 career rebounds and 214 assists. Thielman is the school's all-time leading three-point shooter. She has also been a success in the classroom, earning Myles Brand NSIC All-Academic with Distinction earlier this season. Thielman was an All-NSIC First Team selection last season.

Nordick is the third all-time leading scorer in program history with 1,485 career points. She is closing in on becoming just the third person in school history with 1,500 or more points, joining Jamie Zelinsky and Karna Plaine. Nordick is closing in on Laurie Tyson's rebound record, as she now just needs five career boards to claim the record. Nordick has been an All-NSIC selection each of her three previous seasons at UMC, including being All-NSIC First Team last season. She was NSIC Preseason Player of the Year heading into her senior season. She has also had strong academics, earning Myles Brand NSIC All-Academic with Distinction and CoSIDA Academic All-District.

Taylor has scored 132 career points, 26 blocks and 13 assists during her time at UMC. She has been a staple for the Golden Eagles off the bench in the post, but has also been vital in practice helping the Golden Eagles continue to become better as a program. She has also been a stand out academically, earning All-NSIC Academic honors last season.

The Golden Eagles will close out the regular-season as they face Northern State University Fri., Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. and Minnesota State University Moorhead Sat., Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. The games will help decide UMC's seed going into the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament. They are guaranteed to host a playoff game Feb. 24 at Lysaker Gymnasium.

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

Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.

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.
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