CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team dropped their game Fri., Jan. 13 66-75 to Southwest Minnesota State University. Southwest Minnesota State dominated the post on the night as they finished with 43 rebounds, including 12 offensive boards. 48 of their 75 points came from their main three post players, while they had 38 points in the paint overall.

The Golden Eagles fall to 4-11 on the season and 4-7 in the NSIC. The Mustangs improve to 2-13 on the season and 2-9 in the NSIC.

Minnesota Crookston was led by a big night from Alison Hughes (So., G, Janesville, Wis.), who had 24 points on 8-of-17 from the field and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. She was a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. Isieoma Odor (R-So., F/C, Bloomington, Minn.) came off the bench for 14 points and six boards. She would foul out late in the game. Micaela Noga (Jr., G, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) added 12 points for the Golden Eagles.

UMC would shoot 26-of-66 from the field for 39.4 percent. They were 6-of-20 for 30 percent from beyond the arc and a perfect 8-of-8 from the charity stripe.

The Mustangs looked to 22 points and seven rebounds from Taylor Holicky. Caleigh Rodning would be big off the bench with a double-double of 13 points and 14 boards. Lauren Hedlund chipped in 13 points and eight boards, while point guard Taylor Silva had 12 points, seven boards and six assists.

SMSU was 26-of-57 from the field for 45.6 percent and 6-of-9 from beyond the arc for 66.7 percent. They shot 17-of-20 from the charity stripe for 85 percent.

Turnovers played a huge role in the first half. UMC scored 12 points of off SMSU's 13 turnovers. UMC's seven turnovers led to seven points from the Mustangs. SMSU added seven more turnovers in the second half allowing UMC to score 11 points. UMC turned the ball over five times in the second half leading to five points from SMSU.

Hughes's three-pointer gave the Golden Eagles an 11-6 lead with just under five minutes left in the first quarter. UMC picked up five more points in the first quarter off of a jumper by Paige Weakley (Fr., G/F, Kearney, Mo.) and a three by Hughes. SMSU responded with a 7-0 run, giving them a 17-16 lead over UMC heading into the second quarter.

SMSU quickly extended their run to 9-0 before a layup by Hughes ended it. The Mustangs put up another five points, all at the hands of Taylor Holicky, to extend their lead to 24-18 with nine minutes left in the half. Hughes momentarily stopped their run with a jumper, but the Mustangs responded with five more points. Kelsey Stinson (Fr., G/F, Cottage Grove, Wis.) caused a SMSU turnover and she would take it to the bucket herself for two starting a 9-0 run for UMC. A jumper from Odor would tie the game up at 31. Over the next two minutes both teams took turns exchanging the lead. SMSU finally captured the lead heading into halftime off of a free throw by Hedlund bring the score to 34-33.

Holicky picked up the first four points of the third quarter extending SMSU's lead to 38-33 before Emily Gruber (Jr., F/C, Monticello, Minn.) went back-to-back picking up four points for UMC. A three pointer by Noga tied the game up at 40. Odor picked up two free throws, giving the Golden Eagles their first lead since late in the first quarter.  Silvia quickly tied it up before Odor hit a jumper to give the Golden Eagles a 44-42 lead. Rodning's layup in traffic drew a foul and a chance for the three-point play, which she captured to start a 5-0 run for SMSU. Hughes ended the run with a three pointer that tied the game up at 47. Shortly after, SMSU went on another run, this time a 9-0 run. A couple layups by Hedlund lead to the Mustangs being up 60-53 heading into the fourth quarter.

UMC looked to close the gap early in the fourth quarter, scoring six points off of layups and three more off of a Noga three to tie the game at 60. A layup by Hughes would put the Golden Eagles ahead by two for the first time since mid-way through the third quarter. Their lead would be short lived after a couple of free throws from Rodning tied the game at 62 with just under five minutes left to play. Holicky's layup and three put the Mustangs back on top 67-62. A layup by Odor stopped the 9-0 run of the Mustangs. The last two minutes were filled with free throws. SMSU made six and UMC made two, leading the Mustangs to a 75-66 victory over the Golden Eagles.

Minnesota Cookston will return to Lysaker Gymnasium on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 4 p.m. to take on Sioux Falls.