Minot, N.D.—The University of Minnesota Crookston would look to salvage a split during their North Dakota trip with NSIC North foe Minot State.
 
The Beavers used the duo of Madison Wald and Hannah Payne and a huge first half to defeat the Golden Eagles 80-69 in NSIC play.
 
With the win, Minot State moves to 9-11 overall and 4-10 in conference play. The Golden Eagles fall to 10-10 overall and 5-9 in NSIC play.
 
The Golden Eagles would get off to a fast start, by getting a stop on the Beavers opening possession and then getting a Isy Odor (R-Sr., F, Bloomington, Minn.) driving layup.
 
The Beavers would answer right back with a 6-0 run, fueled by Minot native Madison Wald.
 
Caitlin Michaelis (Sr., G, Marshfield, Wis.) would answer right back with a three to cut the Beaver lead to just one at 6-5.
 
Early on, Minnesota Crookston would be fueled by the three point shots, accounting for six of the eight Golden Eagle points in the first seven minutes of the game, including a right wing three from Kylea Praska to cut the Beaver lead to six at 14-8.
 
The Beavers would shoot lights out in the first stanza, going 10-15 from the field in the first half, good for 66.7 percent. The Beavers would lead 21-12 after the first quarter of play.
 
The second quarter would continue to see the Beavers stay red-hot, especially Wald, who hit a deep-three from the logo. That three brought the senior guard within one point of the 1,000 point mark. Wald would eventually get the 1,000 point mark with a free throw in the second half.
 
The Golden Eagles would trail by 20 at one point in the first half, but would cut the lead to 18. The Beavers would head into the halftime break with a 46-28 lead.
 
Minnesota Crookston would be led by Abby Guidinger (So., G/F, Waukesha, Wis.) with seven points off the bench. Michaelis would add five for the Golden Eagles. Odor would score four points, while Paige Weakley (Jr., G/F, Kearney, Neb.), Kylie Post (Fr., G, Corcoran, Minn.) and Kylea Praska (Fr., G, Thief River Falls, Minn.) each added three points.
 
Minnesota Crookston shot just 34.5 percent from the field, including just 22.2 percent from the three point line.
 
The Beavers shot 21-32 from the field, good for 65.6 percent in the first half. Wald and Mariah Payne led the way with 16 and 13 points apiece respectively.
 
The Golden Eagles would come out of the second half and go on a run to cut the lead to 57-49 at the end of the third quarter. In that third quarter, the Golden Eagles would outscore the Beavers 21-11.
 
Through three quarters, the Golden Eagles were led by Guidinger who scored nine points in the third stanza, bringing her total to 12.
 
At one point during the second half, the Beavers would lead by as much as 20. The Golden Eagles would get as close as eight points at the end of third quarter, but the Beavers proved to be too much for the Golden Eagles.
 
The Golden Eagles had three scorers reach double-figures, including Guidinger who finished with 12 and Michaelis also added 12 for Minnesota Crookston. Kylie Post scored 11 on the day. Paige Cornale (Fr., G, Oak Creek, Wis.) scored eight points on the day.
 
Minnesota Crookston turned the ball over 12 times in the loss, while shooting 41.4 percent from the field and just 28 percent from the three point line.
 
Minnesota Crookston will be back on the road for conference play next weekend when the Golden Eagles head to Marshall and Sioux Falls for a weekend series. The Golden Eagles will battle the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs at 5:30 p.m. on Friday. Minnesota Crookston will do battle with Sioux Falls at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.