SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team fell 64-55 to University of Sioux Falls Fri., Feb. 5 at the Stewart Center in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Golden Eagles were out-rebounded 53-31, giving up 21 second-chance points. In addition, Sioux Falls was led by 30 points from Taylor Varsho, who was 12-of-23 from the field and 6-of-12 from beyond the arc.

The Golden Eagles fall to 14-7 (11-6 NSIC) with Friday's loss. Sioux Falls moves to 19-4 (13-4 NSIC). UMC will remain in a tie for third in the NSIC North, while Sioux Falls remains in second in the NSIC South.

UMC was led by a career night off the bench from Isieoma Odor (R-Fr., F/C, Bloomington, Minn./Health Management), who had 18 points and eight rebounds. Alexa Thielman (Sr. G, Buffalo, Minn./Health Sciences) added 11 points, while Katrina Nordick (Sr., F, Perham, Minn./Applied Studies) had 10 points and seven boards.

The Golden Eagles were 17-of-47 for 36.3 percent from the field and struggled from beyond the arc, finishing 5-of-19 for 26.3 percent. UMC also struggled at the charity stripe, going 16-of-24 for 66.7 percent.

Sioux Falls was led by Varsho's 30 points and eight rebounds. Teagan Molden added nine points, while Sam Knecht had six points and 10 rebounds and Alison Klostergaard had six points and 13 boards.

USF was 26-of-74 for 35.1 percent and 8-of-29 for 27.6 percent from beyond the arc.

The Cougars got out to an early 7-0 lead following a Varsho three-pointer. The run would be stopped as Thielman faked going into the lane and hit a big three to cut the deficit to 7-3. USF would be able to extend their lead to 12-5. UMC would be able to go on a 4-0 run with a pair of Noga free throws and a Thielman long jumper to cut the deficit to 12-9 late in the first quarter. After a steal on the defensive end, Gruber would thread the needle to Odor for a lay-up to cut the lead to 12-11 to end the first quarter.

The Cougars would open up the second quarter with four-straight points from Varsho to extend the lead to 16-11. A three from Thielman and a pair of free throws from Odor would knot the game up at 16-16 with 7:22 left in the quarter. USF would take the lead back as Klostergaard hit a pair of free throws to make it 18-16. UMC would take their first lead though as Nordick hit a three from the wing. After a defensive stop by Emily Gruber (So., F/C, Monticello, Minn./Communication), Micaela Noga (So., G, Parkers Prairie, Minn./Health Sciences) would nail a three of her own to put UMC up 22-18 with five minutes left in the half. The Cougars would claw back in and tie it up as USF got their 14th offensive rebound of the first half from Knecht, who put it back in and knotted it up 22-22. A three from Varsho would give Sioux Falls the advantage 25-22 with 2:10 left in the second quarter.

A Varsho three would extend the USF advantage to 30-24 with 50 seconds left in the half.

UMC was led in the first half by eight points and four boards from Odor, who also had two steals. Thielman added eight points, while Noga had five points. The Golden Eagles were 8-of-27 for 29.6 percent from the field.

Sioux Falls was led by 18 points and five boards from Varsho, who was 7-of-14 from the field and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. The Cougars were 11-of-37 for 29.7 percent from the field and 4-of-14 for 28.6 percent from behind the three-point line. Sioux Falls' key stat of the first half was 16 offensive rebounds. They out-rebounded the Golden Eagles 34-13 in the first half.

After Sioux Falls was able to push their lead to eight early in the third quarter, Hughes drove in and got the lay-up and a free throw to complete the old-fashioned three-point play to cut the deficit down to five (36-31) with 5:40 left in the third quarter. A Caitlin Michaelis (Fr., G, Marshfield, Wis.) three would get UMC within four at 38-34 with just under five minutes left in the third.

UMC would be able to cut into the deficit further as Noga hit a pair of free throws to cut the lead to 40-37 with 1:15 left in the third quarter. However, Varsho would come through for USF hitting a three from the win to extend the lead to 43-37. Sioux Falls would end the third up 43-38.

Nordick would open the fourth quarter with a jumper to cut the USF lead to 43-40. After a defensive stop, Thielman would get to the free throw line where she would hit 1-of-2 free throws to cut the deficit to 43-41. A put-back from Molden would put USF up 45-41, but Nordick answered by getting to the lane and getting a bucket to get the deficit back down to two at 45-43. Molden would answer though and nail a three from the wing to put Sioux Falls up 48-43. The USF lead would be extended to 50-44 and would extend further as Varsho nailed a three to make it 53-44 with 5:11 remaining. The Cougars would grab their largest lead of the game on a Lexi Lee mid-way through the fourth quarter at 56-46 and would extend further on a Varsho jumper to make it 58-46.

The Golden Eagles would get a big play from Odor as she hit a jumper and was fouled and converted the old-fashioned three-point play to cut the USF lead to 58-49 with 4:06 left in the game. Molden would respond with a jumper to make it 60-49. Nordick would be able to cut the USF lead to 60-51 from the free throw line with 2:52 remaining. However, Robson would answer this time with a lay-up to make it 62-51. USF would hang on for the 64-55 win.

The Golden Eagles will continue their road trip, as they play Southwest Minnesota State University Sat., Feb. 6 at 5 p.m. at the R/A Facility in Marshall, Minn.

 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.

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