BISMARCK, N.D. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team fell 82-69 to University of Mary Fri., Jan. 25 at McDowell Activity Center in Bismarck, N.D. The Marauders used a big first half to ignite their victory Friday. UMary was able to utilize their length to their advantage as 6-2 forwards Cassie Askvig and Gabbie Bohl both had big names. Minnesota Crookston's
Isieoma Odor (R-Sr., F/C, Bloomington, Minn.) had one of the best games of her impressive season with 26 points. Despite Odor's big game, the Golden Eagles were unable to overcome the great early start for the Marauders.
Minnesota Crookston falls to 10-9 (5-8 NSIC) with Friday's loss. UMary improved to 11-5 (9-4 NSIC). UMary remains in third place in the NSIC North, while the Golden Eagles remain in a tie for fifth place in the NSIC North.
Odor was 12-of-19 from the field with 26 points to lead Minnesota Crookston. She remains at fifth all-time in scoring with 1,354 points. Odor needs 106 points to surpass her former teammate Alexa Thielman for fourth all-time for the Golden Eagles.
Paige Weakley (Jr., G/F, Kearney, Mo.) continued her strong play of late as she notched 1 points on 3-of-3 from the field, and 2-of-2 from beyond the arc. Weakley is averaging 14.3 points per tilt over the last three games.
Paige Cornale (Fr., G, Oak Creek, Wis.) also continued her strong play of late with eight points. Cornale is averaging 6.9 points per game over the last eight games.
Amber Schoenicke (Jr., F/C, Marshall, Wis.) had one of her best games off the bench as she tallied six points and five boards.
The Golden Eagles were 25-of-58 from the field for 43.1 percent. Minnesota Crookston struggled from distance as they were just 2-of-9 for 22.2 percent. The Golden Eagles shot well from the charity stripe, where they were 19-of-25 for 76.0 percent.
Minnesota Crookston had 12 assists to 11 turnovers on the night.
UMary had five players score in double figures on the evening. Bohl led the way with a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds. Cassie Askvig added 19 points and seven boards. Macy Williams chipped in 19 points and eight assists. Coral Gillette notched 12 points, while Kassandra Bartek came off the bench for 10.
The Marauders were 26-of-59 from the field for 44.1 percent. UMary shot 9-of-24 from behind the three-point line for 37.5 percent. The Marauders shot 21-of-25 for 84.0 percent from the charity stripe.
UMary controlled the glass 35-26, including nine offensive rebounds. The Marauders also shared the ball on the night, as they had 20 assists to 14 turnovers.
The game was closely called by the officials as the two teams combined for 43 fouls. UMary and Minnesota Crookston combined for 50 attempts from the foul line.
Odor opened up the scoring in the game with a mid-range jumper to put the Golden Eagles up 2-0. UMary took the advantage 3-2 as Gillette went 3-of-3 after she was fouled on the triple attempt. The Marauders extended their lead to 6-4 with a Gillette three-pointer. The Golden Eagles took the lead briefly 7-6 on an Odor jumper, however UMary took the lead back quickly as Williams nailed a trey to put the Marauders ahead 9-7.
UMary extended their lead out to 15-7 with 1:19 remaining in the first quarter following Bohl jumper, followed by an Askvig trey. A Bartek basket moved their run to 11-0 and the lead to 17-7. Weakley halted the run with a trey for the Golden Eagles as she cut the deficit to 17-10.
The Marauders were able to widen the gap to 23-12 early in the second quarter after Askvig drove to the hoop for two. Minnesota Crookston cut the deficit to 23-16 following back-to-back Odor baskets. Bartek halted the mini-run for the Golden Eagles with a trey as UMary went ahead 26-16. The Marauders moved their lead out to 33-18 on a Lexi Schneider basket.
The Golden Eagles used a 4-0 run to pull within 33-22 as Cornale drove to the lane for a hoop, and Schoenicke connected off an in-bounds play. Askvig stopped the run with 1:50 left in the second quarter as she hit a jumper. Minnesota Crookston quickly countered with a Weakley triple to pull within 35-25. A Bartek three-pointer pushed the UMary lead out to 38-25. The Marauders went into the locker room with a 41-25 lead after Gillette hit a trey in the final seconds of the stanza.
Minnesota Crookston was able to slice the gap to 43-31 early in the third quarter as Odor used the backboard to hit a jumper. A Bohl basket stopped a 6-2 run for the Golden Eagles to open the third quarter. The Golden Eagles used another 6-2 run, culminating with an Odor basket, to pull within 47-37. The Marauders halted the run with a Williams jumper as they pushed the lead out to 49-37.
UMary moved their advantage out to 55-39 following a pair of Askvig free throws. The Golden Eagles utilized a 7-1 run, culminating with a pair of Cornale free throws, as they sliced the UMary lead down to 56-46 with 1:09 left in the third quarter. A pair of Bohl free throws for the Marauders extended the lead back out to 58-46. Cornale found Schoenicke for a lay-up as the Golden Eagles cut the lead to 58-48 going into the quarter intermission.
The Marauders opened the fourth quarter on a 4-0 run as they moved the lead out to 62-48. UMary was able to push their lead out 72-54 with back-to-back three-pointers from Gillette and Williams.
Minnesota Crookston did got give in as they utilized a 9-0 run to cut the lead to 72-63 after an Odor fast-break bucket. Bohl stopped the run for the Marauders to extend the UMary advantage to 74-63. The Marauders would sink their free throws down the stretch as they hung on to win 82-71.
The Golden Eagles return to action Sat., Feb. 26 as they take on Minot State University in Minot, N.D. at 3:30 p.m.