MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team fell to Palm Beach Atlantic University 69-66 after the Sailfish used a big third quarter to overcome the Golden Eagles. The Golden Eagles outscored Palm Beach Atlantic 18-15 in the fourth quarter, but it wouldn't be enough to overcome a six-point deficit going into the final stanza. Minnesota Crookston had four players score in double-figures in the first game of the Cesar Odio Thanksgiving Classic on the campus of Barry University at the Health & Sports Center in Miami Shores, Fla.

The Golden Eagles fell to 0-3 on the season after the hard-fought game against Palm Beach Atlantic. The Sailfish improved to 1-4 after Friday night's win.

Minnesota Crookston shot 24-of-61 for 39.3 percent on the game, however they struggled from beyond the arc as they were just 4-of-23 for 17.4 percent for Friday's game. The Golden Eagles shot 14-of-18 for 77.8 percent from the charity stripe.

The Golden Eagles had balanced scoring led by a team-high 22 points from Micaela Noga (Sr., G, Parkers Prairie, Minn.), who shot 9-of-19 from the field, but just 2-of-10 from behind the three-point line. In the post, Isieoma Odor (R-Jr., F/C, Bloomington, Minn.) notched 15 points and eight boards on 5-of-10 from the field. Stephanie McWilliams (So., G, Grand Forks, N.D.) and Caitlin Michaelis (Jr., G, Marshfield, Wis.) each chipped in 10 points on the night. Both players added five rebounds.

Emily Gruber (Sr., F/C, Monticello, Minn.) guided the team with 11 boards and she notched five points. Gruber also had five helpers on the game.

The Golden Eagles won the battle on the glass 42-38 and had 13 assists to 14 turnovers on the night.

Palm Beach Atlantic finished 26-of-68 for the game for 38.2 percent. The Sailfish shot 5-of-17 for 29.4 percent from beyond the arc. They were strong from the charity stripe as they shot 12-of-15 for 80.0 percent. Palm Beach Atlantic had just six turnovers on the night.

The Sailfish looked to Apple Valley, Minn. native and Marquette University transfer Hannah Grim, who had 29 points on 11-of-21 from the field. She tallied six rebounds on the game. Ciara Cumbie was also potent on the day with a double-double of 11 points and 16 boards. Mina Salhia added 11 points, including shooting 3-of-6 from behind the three-point line.

Palm Beach Atlantic started the game out on a 6-2 run after a basket from Cumbie. They would extend their lead to 13-7 after a pair of free throws from Jane Svilberg. Minnesota Crookston closed the first quarter on a 6-2 run as they cut the Sailfish lead to 15-13 going into the quarter intermission.

A Michaelis trey and a Noga jumper lifted the Golden Eagles out of the gate in the second quarter as they took an 18-15 advantage. Minnesota Crookston would hang on to the lead and extend it to 27-20 with a basket from McWilliams. Palm Beach Atlantic cut the lead to 29-27 with a 7-2 run. Minnesota Crookston ended the run with a Lindsey Weber (Jr., G/F, Delafield, Wis.) bucket. However, the Sailfish came right back with a 4-0 run to end the second quarter as they went into the half knotted up 31-31 with the Golden Eagles.

Minnesota Crookston opened the second stanza on an 8-5 run as an Odor layup gave the Golden Eagles a 39-36 advantage. Palm Beach Atlantic countered with free throws from Cumbie to pull back within one at 39-38. The Golden Eagles staved off the Sailfish and held a 46-42 lead following a Noga triple. Palm Beach Atlantic came back and took the lead back 49-48 with a basket from Grim. They built on the momentum as they closed the half on a 9-0 run as they went into the final quarter with a 54-48 advantage.

Minnesota Crookston opened the fourth quarter on a 6-4 run as they pulled within 58-54 with a Noga basket. Grim and Deshazier each connected on buckets for the Sailfish to stave off Minnesota Crookston and move the lead to 62-54. The Golden Eagles had a late charge with an 8-0 run guided by three points from Noga and three points for Odor as they knotted the game up 62-62 with 1:12 remaining in the game. A Grim basket for Palm Beach Atlantic stopped the run to give the Sailfish a 64-62 lead.

The Golden Eagles countered with a pair of Noga free throws to tie the game up 64-64 with 43 seconds left. An old-fashioned three-point play from Grim held Minnesota Crookston off and gave Palm Beach Atlantic a 67-64 lead.

Michaelis had a chance at the charity stripe to cut the lead to one, but she hit just 1-of-2 to cut the lead to 67-65. Grim hit a free throw to move the lead to 68-65 for Palm Beach Atlantic. Michaelis again had a chance to pull Minnesota Crookston within one, but she again hit just 1-of-2 to cut the lead to 68-66 with six seconds left. Gruber would send Katie Stang to the line where she would hit 1-of-2 to hold off the Golden Eagles and give Palm Beach Atlantic a 69-66 win.

Minnesota Crookston will play their second game of the Cesar Odio Thanksgiving Classic at 4 p.m. C.T. against Barry University at the Health & Sports Center in Miami Shores, Fla.