UMC falls to 4-12 (4-8 NSIC) after Saturday's loss. They currently sit in a tie for fifth place in the NSIC North standings as they are still just two games out of the top four in the division. The top four teams will host a NSIC/Sanford Health playoff game at the conclusion of the regular-season. Sioux Falls improves to 14-2 (10-2 NSIC) with the victory. They remain as co-leaders in the NSIC South with a 14-2 (10-2 NSIC) mark.

"I didn't think we anticipated things very well down the stretch to either get a stop to get some scores," said Head Coach Mike Roysland. "The kids got some scores and I thought we worked hard and were able to get right back into the game. We just have to get better at anticipating what is next, whether it is on the offensive end or the defensive end. We are leaving opportunities out there both offensively and defensively that we aren't seeing fast enough. There is nothing that is broke, we just have to get more consistent."

Minnesota Crookston was led by 19 points and six boards from Isieoma Odor (R-So., F/C, Bloomington, Minn.), who had a big second half for the Golden Eagles. Odor would put up 15 second-half points for Coach Roysland's squad. 

She continues her strong play as of late off of the bench. Odor is averaging 19 points and 7.2 rebounds over the past five games.

In addition to Odor, Hughes added 13 points. Micaela Noga (So., G, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) would chip in 11 points and six boards. Emily Gruber (Jr., F, Monticello, Minn.) added 10 points and four assists.

The Golden Eagles were 18-of-58 from the field for 31.0 percent. They shot 6-of-23 for 26.1 percent from beyond the arc. Where they helped keep themselves in the game was at the charity stripe. The Golden Eagles would go 21-of-23 for 91.3 percent on the day.

Sioux Falls had to use 10 players on the game as several of their starters got into foul trouble in a game in which 41 fouls were called. Only one player, Jacey Huinker, would foul out. But three others would have four fouls for USF and three more would have three fouls.

The Cougars looked to the play of Sam Knecht with 27 points and eight boards on 12-of-17 from the field for 70.6 percent on the game. Andi Mataloni came off the bench for 13 points on 5-of-9 from the field and 3-of-7 from beyond the arc.
The Cougars shot 27-of-58 for 46.6 percent and 4-of-14 for 28.6 percent from beyond the arc. They were just 11-of-18 for 61.1 percent from the charity stripe.

USF picked up 39 rebounds, including nine offensive rebounds. UMC totaled 31 rebounds, eight offensively. USF turned the ball over 17 times and UMC 11. Both teams were able to capitalize on each other's turnovers picking up 15 points each.

After two quick points off of free throws for the Golden Eagles, the Cougars were able to pick up six points off of layups. A jumper by Micaela Noga tied up the game at 6, but the Cougars were able to respond with a layup by Knecht and a couple of threes from Andi Mataloni and Alyson Johnson to bring the score to 12-6 in favor of the Cougars. UMC looked to stop the Cougars run with a jumper by Kitri Zezza (Fr., G, Albertville, Minn.). Sioux Falls picked up eight more points in the first leading them to take an 11 point lead into the second quarter, leading 21-10.

UMC looked to cut USF's lead to nine after a layup by Odor. The Cougars responded with two layups of their own. A Johnsen three and layups by Mariah Szymanski and Moira Duffy brought the score to 32-16 in favor of USF. Noga picked up two threes in the final two minutes for UMC, but it was not enough as the Cougars took a 37-24 lead into halftime.

The Golden Eagles would struggle mightily shooting the ball in the opening period as they were just 7-of-30 for 23.3 percent from the field and 2-of-11 for 18.2 percent from beyond the arc. The one place where they were hitting shots was at the charity stripe, where they were 8-of-8 in the first half.

Knecht picked up the first six points coming out of the break off of a couple of layups and free throws. UMC cut the lead to 5 with a 20-6 run to take us into the third quarter. Odor was on fire over this run as she was responsible for 12 out of the 20 points with two jumpers, four free throws and two layups. Hughes picked up five points of her own with two free throws and a three pointer. Noga added three with her three pointer. USF got their points off of layups by Mataloni and Augusta Thramer.

Hughes's three out of the break brought the Golden Eagles to within two, bringing the score to 47-49.  Knecht added nine to the Cougars total with three layups, a jumper and a free throw. Gruber picked up four points as the Golden Eagles pulled within three. Knecht responded with five of her own points to extend the Cougars lead to eight. UMC added 12 more to their total in the final six minutes, but it would not be enough as the University of Sioux Falls would win it 69-63.

Minnesota Crookston will hit the road Fri., Jan. 20 to take on University of Mary in a crucial game at 6 p.m.