CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team out-scored Valley City State University 45-30 in the second half to earn a 79-64 win Tues., Nov. 13 at Lysaker Gymnasium. The Vikings proved why they beat Minot State University and took St. Cloud State University to overtime as they were pesky throughout Tuesday's tilt, putting up a great test for the Golden Eagles.

Minnesota Crookston shot 16-of-29 for 55.2 percent in the second half propelled by the play of senior captains Caitlin Michaelis (Sr., G, Marshfield, Wis.), who scored 10 points on 4-of-4 from the field, and Isieoma Odor (R-Sr., F/C, Bloomington, Minn.), who notched 11 points on 3-of-4 from the field in the second half.

The Golden Eagles start the season with a 3-0 mark for the first time since the 2007-08 season. Minnesota Crookston commenced the 2015-16 slate with a 3-1 mark in non-conference play on their way to a program-best 18-10 mark. The Golden Eagles made it to the quarterfinals of the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament during the 2015-16 slate.

Valley City State falls to 2-4 in their second season under Head Coach Vanessa Keeler-Johnson, a former assistant at NSIC foe Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Michaelis led Minnesota Crookston on Tuesday with one of the best efforts of her career. She posted 19 points on 8-of-14 from the field and 2-of-5 from beyond the arc. Michaelis' scoring effort tied her career-high of 19 points, previously recorded last season against Winona State University.

Odor, this week's NSIC North Player of the Week, moved to three-consecutive double-doubles with 17 points and 10 rebounds on 5-of-9 from the field. Odor continues her hot shooting from the stripe, where she was 7-of-8 on the evening. Odor is hitting free throws at an 84.2 percent clip this season.

Freshman Kylie Post (G, Corcoran, Minn.) tallied 17 points, four rebounds, and three assists on 7-of-13 from the field. Post is averaging 16.0 points per game in her first three career contests, as she is off to one of the best starts of any Golden Eagle freshman in the history of the program.

Abby Guidinger (So., G/F, Waukesha, Wis.) added 12 points, while Paige Weakley (Jr., G/F, Kearney, Mo.) chipped in eight points and seven boards. Kylea Praska (Fr., G, Thief River Falls, Minn.) added two points off the bench, while Bren Fox (Fr., F/C, Norwood Young America, Minn.) notched four points and four rebounds off the bench.

The Golden Eagles shot 30-of-68 from the field for 44.1 percent. Minnesota Crookston was 6-of-20 from beyond the arc for 30.0 percent, while the Golden Eagles were 13-of-16 for 81.3 percent from the foul line. Minnesota Crookston won the battle on the glass 41-37. The Golden Eagles shared the ball well with 11 assists to nine turnovers.

Valley City State was led by the play of Kate Williams, who notched 20 points on 8-of-19 from the field and 4-of-10 from beyond the arc. The defense keyed on Williams in the second half as she was 3-of-10 in the second frame and just 1-of-6 from distance, after opening the game 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.

Mackenzie Huber added a double-double of 13 points and 10 boards in the post. Hannah Schlecht added 11 points, while Alli Vandal notched 10 points.

The Vikings shot 25-of-62 from the field for 40.3 percent. Valley City State was 5-of-17 from distance for 29.4 percent, and 9-of-13 from the stripe for 69.2 percent. Minnesota Crookston forced 14 Viking turnovers on the night.

The Golden Eagles started out the tilt on an 8-2 run ignited by three-pointers from Guidinger and Weakley. Valley City State responded with a 10-2 run as they overtook the lead 12-0 with a Vandal basket. The Vikings built on their run with two more buckets to widen the gap to 16-10 with a Williams lay-up. Minnesota Crookston cut the lead to 16-12 on a pair of Odor free throws. However, Valley City State retained the advantage at the end of the quarter, 20-16.

Vandal notched the first hoop of the second quarter to extend the lead to 22-16 in favor of the Vikings. Minnesota Crookston countered as Post put-in an old-fashioned three-point play to cut the deficit to 22-19. A Williams trey widened the gap to 25-19 with 6:47 remaining in the second quarter.

Minnesota Crookston responded with an 8-0 run as four different players contributed to the run to put the Golden Eagles into a 27-25 lead.

A 5-0 rally ignited by a Williams triple moved Valley City State back in front 30-27 with 2:10 left in the second quarter. Minnesota Crookston made a run late in the frame as a 7-2 rally put the Golden Eagles up 34-32 following a Post basket.

A pair of free throws from Huber knotted the game up 34-34 going into the break.

Minnesota Crookston used their time in the locker room to their advantage as they came out with a 7-3 run to move into a 41-37 lead. A Huber jumper cut the deficit to 41-39 for the Vikings. However, the Golden Eagles were resilient as they countered with a 8-5 run to take a 49-44 advantage on a Weakley trey with 4:14 remaining in the third quarter.

Valley City State stayed right in the fray with a Huber old-fashioned three-point play to pull within 49-47. Minnesota Crookston concluded the third frame on a 9-4 run as they went into the quarter break with a 58-51 lead.

The Golden Eagles were able to put the Vikings away led by an 8-0 run to open the fourth quarter ignited six points from Guidinger, who had struggled from the field and with foul trouble heading into the final frame. The Vikings were able to slice the deficit to eight points on a jumper by Schlecht with 6:14 remaining. However, a Guidinger old-fashioned three-point play moved the lead back out to 11 (69-58) with 5:30 left in the quarter.

Minnesota Crookston would be able to continue to hold off their foes from the Peace Garden State as the Golden Eagles came away with a 79-64 win in their regular-season home debut.
The Golden Eagles return to action Sat., Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. against Red River Valley foe Mayville State University, located a mere 48 miles from Crookston.