SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Sioux Falls used a big second quarter to guide them past the University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team Sat., Jan. 13 at the Stewart Center in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Cougars outscored the Golden Eagles 25-11 in the second quarter. Minnesota Crookston would get the lead down to 12 points in the fourth quarter, but USF closed the game on a 12-7 run to stave off the charge by the Golden Eagles.

Minnesota Crookston falls to 3-12 (3-8 NSIC) with Saturday's loss to Sioux Falls. The Cougars improved to 12-5 (9-4 NSIC) with the victory. USF improved to 5-2 all-time over Minnesota Crookston.

The Golden Eagles looked to a career night from Abby Guidinger (Fr., G/F, Waukesha, Wis.), who had 18 points and six rebounds on 6-of-10 from the field. Emily Gruber (Sr., F/C, Monticello, Minn.) continued her strong weekend with a double-double of 16 points and 10 boards, including going 8-of-10 from the charity stripe. Gruber averaged 17.5 points and nine rebounds on the weekend for Minnesota Crookston.

Micaela Noga (Sr., G, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) chipped in 10 points on 5-of-12 from the field. Noga needs just 24 points to become the 11^th player in school history to reach 1,000 points. Caitlin Michaelis (Jr., G, Marshfield, Wis.) added seven points.
Minnesota Crookston shot 19-of-58 from the field for 32.8 percent. They struggled from beyond the arc where they were just 2-of-13 for 15.4 percent. The Golden Eagles shot 17-of-20 for 85.0 percent from the foul line.

USF was paced by 29 points from Kaely Hummel on 12-of-25 from the field and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. Mariah Szymanski added 12 points. Sioux Falls was led by Jacey Huinker on the glass with 13 rebounds. USF won the rebounding battle 40-37 Saturday.

The Cougars were 30-of-68 from the field for 45.5 percent. USF shot 11-of-25 from beyond the arc for 44.0 percent. The Cougars were 3-of-4 for 75.0 percent from the charity stripe.

The Cougars got out to an early 6-0 lead on Minnesota Crookston paced by four points from Hummel. Guidinger got the Golden Eagles on the board first as she sank a three-pointer to pull Minnesota Crookston within 6-3. The Golden Eagles pulled within 6-5 as Gruber put in a layup. Sioux Falls came back with a 7-2 run propelled by a Sanders triple as they took the 13-7 lead. Michaelis' free throw shooting guided a 4-2 run as Minnesota Crookston responded to cut the lead to 15-11 with 1:22 remaining in the first quarter.  Andi Mataloni made a jumper to put the Cougars up 17-11 going into the quarter break.

Sioux Falls opened up the second quarter on a strong note with a 5-0 run led by a Szymanski three-pointer to extend the lead to 22-11. The Cougars used a 6-2 run as they extended their lead to 28-13 on a Kiara Bradley basket. Minnesota Crookston pulled within 28-16 as Michaelis sank a triple. Sioux Falls countered with a 5-0 run led by a Hummel three-pointer as they extended their lead to 33-16. Guidinger ended the run with a basket for the Golden Eagles, but USF came right back with triples from Hummel and Szymanski to extend the lead to 39-18.  Sioux Falls went into the locker room with a 42-22 lead as they outscored Minnesota Crookston 25-11 in the second quarter.

The Golden Eagles looked to seven points apiece from Michaelis and Guidinger. Noga added four points for Minnesota Crookston.

The Golden Eagles were 8-of-26 from the field for 30.8 percent. Minnesota Crookston was 2-of-9 for 22.2 percent and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe for 100.0 percent.

Sioux Falls shot 17-of-36 from the field for 47.2 percent. The Cougars were 7-of-16 for 43.8 percent from behind the three-point line and 1-of-2 from the foul line. USF won the rebounding battle in the first half 22-15.

Hummel had a big first half for Sioux Falls with 19 points on 8-of-14 from the field and 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. Szymanski added nine points. Huinker led USF with eight rebounds.

The Golden Eagles opened the third quarter on an 8-3 run as they cut the Sioux Falls lead to 45-30 with 6:53 left in the third quarter. The early run for Minnesota Crookston was paced by four points from Guidinger. A Mataloni triple extended the USF lead back out to 51-33. Minnesota Crookston pulled back within 16 with a Noga basket with 2:27 left in the quarter. However, Sioux Falls came right back with an Augusta Thramer old-fashioned three-point play to extend their lead back out to 58-39. Moira Duffy followed it up with a basket of her own to move the USF lead back out to 60-39 with one minute left in the quarter. Minnesota Crookston used a Kasey Harper basket and a Gruber old-fashioned three-point play to pull the Golden Eagles within 60-44 heading into the quarter break.

Minnesota Crookston opened up the final quarter on a 6-2 paced by four points from Guidinger as they cut the lead to 62-50 with 6:40 remaining in the game. USF stopped the run as Szymanski drained a trey to move their lead back out to 65-50 with 5:18 remaining. Sioux Falls would halt any comeback efforts for the Golden Eagles as they took the game 74-57.  

The Golden Eagles will return to action Tues., Jan. 16 at 6 p.m. against conference rival Bemidji State University at Lysaker Gymnasium.