BEMIDJI, MINN. – A 21-13 run over the final five minutes of the game lifted Minnesota Crookston to a 70-61 win over Bemidji State University at BSU Gymnasium. The Golden Eagles were ignited by the play of Isieoma Odor (R-Sr., F/C, Bloomington, Minn.), who continued her phenomenal start to her senior season with 21 points and seven rebounds on 10-of-15 from the field. Caitlin Michaelis (Sr., G, Marshfield, Wis.) added 18 points, including 10 points in the final 5:30 of the game.

Minnesota Crookston continues their best start since the 2004-05 season as they moved to 6-1 (1-0 NSIC). Bemidji State falls to 2-3 (0-1 NSIC) with Saturday's loss to the Golden Eagles.

The Golden Eagles displayed their second-best defensive effort of the season as they limited the Beavers to just 61 points and forced 19 turnovers. Minnesota Crookston shot 23-of-60 for 38.3 percent from the field. They overcame tough shooting from the field with a strong afternoon from beyond the arc as they finished 8-of-18 for 44.4 percent. The Golden Eagles were 16-of-21 for 76.2 percent from the stripe.

In addition to Odor and Michaelis, Stephanie McWilliams (Jr., G, Grand Forks, N.D.) added great energy off the bench with a near double-double of 10 points and nine rebounds. Abby Guidinger (So., G/F, Waukesha, Wis.) chipped in nine points.

The Beavers were guided by a double-double from Gabby Dubois with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Taylor Bray added 11 points and six rebounds, but also had five turnovers on the game. Brooklyn Bachmann added nine points, while Maria Appicelli had eight points.

Bemidji State was 25-of-58 for 43.1 percent from the field. The Beaver were just 5-of-17 from distance for 29.4 percent. Bemidji State shot 6-of-7 from the foul line for 85.7 percent.
The Beavers and Golden Eagles were even on the glass 37-37. Minnesota Crookston led the edge on the offensive boards with 13 on the game.

The Golden Eagles took an early 5-2 lead after Michaelis drained a triple from the right wing. Free throws would move the advantage to 7-2 for Minnesota Crookston. Bemidji State's Claire Wolhowe halted a four-minute scoring drought with a trey from the top of the arc to cut the deficit to 7-5 with 5:15 remaining in the first quarter. The Beavers were able to knot the game up 11-11 with a Bray old-fashioned three-point play with 2:42 left in the first stanza. Bemidji State overtook the lead 14-11 on a Trinity Myer old-fashioned three-point play to extend a 6-0 run for the Beavers. A Paige Weakley (Jr., G/F, Kearney, Mo.) triple stopped the run as the Golden Eagles tied the game up 14-14 with a minute remaining in the quarter. Minnesota Crookston went into the quarter break with a 17-16 lead following a Guidinger three-pointer in the final seconds of the stanza.

Bemidji State moved into a 25-19 lead early in the second quarter following a Bachmann scoop and a Bray bucket. Odor halted a nearly four minute scoreless streak with back-to-back buckets to pull Minnesota Crookston back within 25-23 with five minutes remaining. Michaelis put a stamp on a 7-0 run with a trey for the Golden Eagles as they moved back into the lead 26-25. A McWilliams jumper put the Minnesota Crookston into a 29-27 advantage going into the break.

Minnesota Crookston was guided by Odor with eight points. Odor battled two fouls for most of the half to lead the way for the Golden Eagles. Michaelis added six points, including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc. Guidinger and McWilliams each added four points. Bren Fox (Fr., F/C, Norwood Young America, Minn.) played a key role off the bench as she was great spelling Odor while she was on the bench with foul trouble. Fox had three points and four rebounds in nine minutes of play.

The Golden Eagles were 11-of-30 for 36.7 percent from the field. Minnesota Crookston shot 4-of-9 from beyond the arc for 44.4 percent and were 3-of-6 from the stripe.

Bemidji State was led by Dubois with nine points, while Bray added five points and four rebounds. The Beavers were forced into 12 turnovers by the Golden Eagle defense. Bemidji State shot 11-of-25 for 44.0 percent from the field. They were just 3-of-10 from beyond the arc for 30.0 percent and 2-of-3 from the foul line.

The Golden Eagles took their largest lead of the game 33-29 early in the third frame with baskets from Odor and Michaelis. Bemidji State trimmed the lead down to 33-32 as Bray sank a triple. The Golden Eagles moved the lead out to 39-36 on an Odor put-back with 4:56 remaining in the stanza as she scored her 16^th point of the game. Bemidji State came right back with a Wolhowe trey to knot the game up 39-39. The Beavers took over the lead 41-39 with a Dubois bucket. Minnesota Crookston answered with a Guidinger drive to the hoop for the bucket to knot the game up 41-41 with 1:12 remaining in the quarter. Kylie Post (Fr., G, Corcoran, Minn.) put in a pair from the charity stripe to give Minnesota Crookston the 43-41 lead with 42 seconds remaining in the frame. Dubois answered for the Beavers to tie the game up at 43-43 heading into the break.

Bemidji State opened the final stanza with a Dubois bucket to take the lead 45-43. Minnesota Crookston countered as Guidinger sunk the triple to put the Golden Eagles ahead 46-45. A McWilliams free throw and a drive to the hoop for Odor pushed Minnesota Crookston out to a 49-45 advantage. The Beavers did not give in as they came back with a Bray old-fashioned three-point play to cut the lead to 49-48. Out of a timeout, Michaelis responded with a major play as her three-pointer jumped off the rim and into the hoop. After a defensive stop, McWilliams came back with another triple to extend the lead to 55-48 for the Golden Eagles with under five minutes left in the game. Bemidji State cut the lead to 55-50 as they looked to start a rally with a Bachmann bucket. However, Odor had other plans as she secured an old-fashioned three-point play to widen the gap to 58-50 for Minnesota Crookston. The Golden Eagles looked to put away Bemidji State as Michaelis drained a pair of free throws and a trey to extend the lead to 63-50 with under three minutes remaining in the tilt. Bemidji State tried to make a late charge as they cut the lead to 63-55 on a Bachmann old-fashioned three-point play. Free throws from Post, Michaelis and McWilliams put the Beavers away for good as the Golden Eagles took a 70-61 win to open conference play.

Minnesota Crookston opens their NSIC home slate Fri., Dec. 7 at 5:30 p.m. against Minnesota State University Moorhead.