Box Score

BEMIDJI, Minn.– Isieoma Odor (R-So., F/C, Bloomington, Minn.) and Emily Gruber (Jr., F/C, Monticello, Minn.) would lead the way as the University of Minnesota Crookston picked up the series sweep with an 83-75 win over Bemidji State University. The Golden Eagles used a 14-4 run over the last four minutes to win a see-saw battle with their rivals located just 88 miles down U.S. Highway 2. The game was played at the Sanford Center in Bemidji, Minn., which is normally a hockey arena, but has been converted for basketball this week.

Minnesota Crookston has won four of their last six games as they move to 4-10 (4-6 NSIC) with the win. Bemidji State falls to 4-10 (1-9 NSIC) with the loss.

Minnesota Crookston looked to 21 points from Odor, who continued her strong play as of late after coming off of an NSIC North Division Player of the Week nod. Odor was 7-of-9 from the field. Gruber put together one of her best performances of her career with 20 points and eight boards. Stephanie McWilliams (Fr., G, Grand Forks, N.D.), who has started the last three games, continued to provide energy and put together her best performance of her career with eight points and six boards. Alison Hughes (So., G, Janesville, Wis.) was crucial late as she had 16 points.

Minnesota Crookston shot 31-of-58 from the field for 53.4 percent. The Golden Eagles were 6-of-18 from beyond the arc for 33.3 percent. They were strong from the charity stripe as they went 15-of-17 for 88.2 percent. UMC obliterated BSU on the rebounds 39-24 on the game.

Bemidji State looked to 21 points from Aimee Pelzer on 8-of-14 from the field and 5-of-9 from beyond the arc. Alison Cordes had a big first half with four three-pointers, she would finish with 14 points. Sierra Senske added 14 points, as well.

BSU was 29-of-62 from the field for 46.8 percent. The Beavers were 11-of-23 for 47.8 percent from beyond the arc. They struggled from the charity stripe as they were just 6-of-10.

The Beavers would take a 9-4 lead in the early going after a Pelzer three-pointer with 6:50 left in the first quarter. Bemidji State would extend their lead to 14-6 following an Erica Gartner bucket. UMC would counter and cut the lead to 14-9 on a Micaela Noga (Jr., G, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) three-pointer. The score would stay that way until 3:07 left in the first quarter as Senske converted an old-fashioned three-point play to make it 17-9.

Kelsey Stinson (Fr., G/F, Cottage Grove, Wis.) would help lead the charge with a crucial three-pointer at the right moment to cut the lead back down to 17-12 to get the Golden Eagles within striking distance. The Golden Eagles would get key buckets from Gruber and McWilliams to build a 7-0 run to get within one point at 17-16.

Bemidji State would stop the run with a Sydney Arrington basket to get the lead back out to 19-16 in favor of the Beavers. A big steal from Stinson would then lead to a crucial bucket from Gruber to get the Golden Eagles back within one point (19-18) going into the quarter break.

UMC would be able to take the lead early in the second quarter on an Odor jumper to make it 24-23. They would build the lead to 26-23 on a pair of Odor free throws but the Beavers would even things up Cordes would heat up for the Beavers. She would hit a three-pointer to make it 26-26.

The Golden Eagles countered with a three of their own, this time from Michaelis, to put them up 29-26. Cordes would hit back-to-back three-points to turn the tables and put Bemidji State up 32-29. UMC would be able to cut the advantage to 34-33 on a Caitlin Michaelis (So., G, Marshfield, Wis.) jumper. 

However, BSU came right back and would use a basket from Sam Adamich and yet another Cordes trey to push the lead out to 39-33 with 2:04 left in the half.

The Golden Eagles would make a late charge led by their sophomore guard Hughes. She would hit a key three-pointer and a basket with 0.6 seconds left on the clock to get UMC within 45-42 going into the break.

Minnesota Crookston would be led by their post play. They got 12 first-half points from Gruber on 6-of-9 from the field. Odor came off of the bench for 10 points on 3-of-5 from the field. Michaelis and Hughes would each chip in five.

The Golden Eagles were 17-of-31 from the field for 54.8 percent. They shot 4-of-9 from beyond the arc for 44.4 percent. They narrowly out-rebounded BSU 14-13 led by five rebounds from McWilliams.

Bemidji State would look to 12 first-half points from Cordes, all on three-pointers. Pelzer chipped in 11 points. They had eight first-half three-pointers as they were 8-of-12 from distance. BSU shot 17-of-29 for 58.6 percent from beyond the arc.

Gruber would get the first bucket of the second half off on a dish from Hughes to get UMC within one point (45-44). After a BSU miss, Gruber would convert a bucket for her 16^thpoint of the game to put the Golden Eagles on top 46-45.

Bemidji State would finally get on the scoreboard with 7:52 left in the second half as Cordes hit a pair of free throws to make it 47-46 in favor of the Beavers.

Paige Weakley would quickly get the lead back for UMC with a three-pointer to make it 49-47 Golden Eagles. BSU would be able to knot up on a basket in the post from Senske with 5:11 left in the quarter. A Kitri Zezza basket, followed by a pass from Weakley to McWilliams would tip it back in UMC's favor 53-49.

A Pelzer three-pointer for BSU would get the Beavers back within one at 53-52 but Hughes would answer on the other side for the Golden Eagles to make it 56-52. BSU would come right back and tie it up on a Hanna Zerr fast-break bucket to make it 56-56 with less than three minutes left in the third frame. An Allyson Dahl three-pointer would give Bemidji State their first lead since early in the third quarter 59-56. An Odor bucket in the post would get the Golden Eagles within 61-60 going into the quarter break.

Minnesota Crookston would knot it up early on in the fourth quarter as Odor connected on 1-of-2 from the charity stripe. BSU would take the lead back, but the Golden Eagles would grab the reins right back as McWilliams picked up her eighth point to make it 63-62. The two teams would get caught up in a see-saw battle for the next couple of minutes before the Golden Eagles would extend their lead to 67-64 on a Hughes layup.

BSU would climb right back in it and take the lead 68-67 on a Pelzer layup with 5:20 remaining in the game. Gruber would get her 18^th point of the game to take the lead back for UMC 69-68. However, Pelzer struck again with a three to put BSU back on top 71-69. Odor would come up with a clutch jumper in the paint to knot it up 71-71 with three minutes left in the game.

A defensive stop on one end would help lead to a pair of clutch free throws from Odor to make it 73-71 with 1:44 left in the game. Pelzer would find Senske on the next possession though for BSU to again knot it up 73-73 with 1:30 left in the game.

Hughes would drive the lane and draw a foul on Senske to head to the charity stripe the next time down for the Golden Eagles. The lights out free throw shooter would nail both to make it 75-73 with 1:11 remaining in the game.

Minnesota Crookston would get a big defensive stop, forcing a Cordes miss and then Hughes would answer on the other end to make it 77-73 with 37.6 seconds remaining.

Another stop on the defensive end and free throw shots from Gruber would seal the deal for UMC as they made it 79-73 with 27.3 seconds left. Pelzer would hit a basket with 19 seconds left for BSU, but foul shots for Hughes would fend off the Beavers as UMC would win 83-75.

Minnesota Crookston will return to Lysaker Gymnasium to take on Southwest Minnesota State University Fri., Jan. 13 at 6 p.m.