CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston out-scored Augustana University 23-16 in the fourth quarter, but a late rally ultimately fell short in a 63-54 loss at Lysaker Gymnasium Fri., Dec. 13. The Golden Eagles had a lull of three minutes in the third quarter and a combined stretch of eight minutes in the second quarter where they did not score from the field.

Minnesota Crookston's defense held the Vikings to a season-low 63 points on the night. In addition, the Golden Eagles held the Vikings to 34-of-67 from the field for 35.8 percent. Minnesota Crookston struggled from the field in the first 30 minutes of the game but found their stride, going 9-of-15 for 60.0 percent in the final stanza.

The Golden Eagles have made big strides in the last two games, as they have put together strong moments against both Northern State University and Augustana University. Minnesota Crookston is looking to put a full 40 minutes together heading into their final two games of the 2019 portion of their schedule.

Augustana moved to 6-2 (2-2 NSIC) with the victory. Minnesota Crookston falls to 1-7 (0-4 NSIC) with Friday night's loss in Crookston.

The Golden Eagles looked to Abby Guidinger (Jr., G/F, Waukesha, Wis.) with 12 points on 5-of-10 from the field. Guidinger added four assists on the night. Emma Carpenter (Fr., G, Eagan, Minn.) chipped in seven points and six assists as she was a great facilitator for her teammates. Mattea Vetsch (Fr., G, Devils Lake, N.D.), Paige Weakley (Sr., G/F, Kearney, Mo.), Mary Burke (R-Fr., F, Virginia, Minn.) and Amber Schoenicke (Sr., F/C, Marshall, Wis.) added six points apiece.

Kylie Post (Fr., G, Corcoran, Minn.) led Minnesota Crookston on the boards with six rebounds, while Weakley and Bren Fox (So., F/C, Norwood Young America, Minn.) chipped in five boards apiece.
The Golden Eagles were 20-of-55 from the field for 36.4 percent. They went just 5-of-22 from beyond the arc for 22.7 percent, and were 9-of-11 from the charity stripe for 81.8 percent.

Augustana shot 24-of-67 from the field for 35.8 percent. The Vikings were just 4-of-20 from behind the three-point line for 20.0 percent. They were 11-of-14 for 78.6 percent from the foul line.

Augustana looked to 18 points on 7-of-10 from the field from Lauren Sees. Janelle Shiffler came off the bench for 12 points, while Hannah Mitby chipped in 11 points. The Vikings' leading scorer Abby Hora was held to just three points, but she did grab eight rebounds.

Hana Metoxen added nine rebounds. Sees also added seven boards for the night.

Minnesota Crookston won the rebounding edge 41-39 on the night. The Golden Eagles have had the edge on the glass in 5-of-8 games this season

The Golden Eagles got their first points of the game as Carpenter hit a three to knot the game up 3-3. Guidinger connected on a pair of free throws following a Paige Cornale (So., G, Oak Creek, Wis.) bucket to extend the Minnesota Crookston run to 7-0 and their lead to 7-3.

Augustana countered with a 6-0 run of their own using three-pointers from Shiffler and Lizzy Karp to go ahead 9-7. Minnesota Crooskton responded on the other end as Post found Schoenicke in the post for a pair to tie the game up 9-9.

After a defensive stop, Schoenicke made two more to put the Golden Eagles ahead 11-9 with just over 1:30 left in the first quarter.

Augustana's Izzy Van Veldhuizen hit the second of two at the stripe to bring the Vikings within 11-10 going into the quarter break.

The Vikings pushed their run to 4-0 with a Shiffler bucket early in the second quarter putting Augustana up 12-11. Minnesota Crookston responded with a basket from Fox, but the Vikings came right back on the other end with a Shiffler basket to lead 14-13 with eight minutes to go in the second quarter.

The Vikings pushed their run out to 6-0 following another Shiffler bucket with 6:19 remaining to give Augustana an 18-13 advantage. Minnesota Crookston halted the run with a Post fast-break bucket off the steal to cut the lead to 18-15. After nearly three minutes without a point for either team, Alyssa Peterson (Fr., G, Menagha, Minn.) went to the stripe and made two to trim the deficit to 18-17 with over two minutes left in the second quarter.

Augustana pushed the lead back out to three at 20-17 using a Mitby jumper. The Vikings pushed their run to 5-0 after a Mitby old-fashioned three-point play made it 23-17.

The Golden Eagles cut the lead to 23-18 as Peterson hit 1-of-2 from the stripe late in the stanza. Shiffler then responded on the other end with a jumper to give the Vikings a 25-18 lead going into the half. Minnesota Crookston failed to score from the field in the final 5:09 of the second period.

The Vikings continued their run early in the third stanza opening the quarter with the first nine point to move the lead to 34-18. Guidinger opened up Minnesota Crookston's offense with just under seven minutes left in the third quarter as she trimmed the lead to 34-20.

Minnesota Crookston would hold the deficit to 14 until the 2:04 mark as the two teams traded buckets. The Vikings then used a quick 5-0 run using a three-pointer from Sees and a jumper from Sees to push the lead out to 45-26.

The Golden Eagles were able to pull within 16 at 47-31 using a Burke bucket late in the third quarter.

Minnesota Crookston continued her play as she came in clutch with four more points accounting for six-consecutive points for the Golden Eagles to trim the deficit to 49-35 early in the third quarter.

After a defensive stop, Carpenter found Guidinger for the jumper to pull Minnesota Crookston within 49-37 with 8:21 remaining in the game. A Guidinger bucket kept the Golden Eagles within 13 points at 51-39, as she continued her strong play in the final stanza.

After a defensive stop, Guidinger lended a helping hand, finding Weakley for the three ball to trim the lead to 51-42. Augustana responded with a Van Veldhuizen basket, but Weakley came right back with another trey to cut the lead to 53-45.

Minnesota Crookston kept in within eight with another Guidinger bucket later in the frame. After the freshman Carpenter was fouled, she made two from the line to cut the deficit to 55-49 with 3:26 left in the game.

Augustana fought off the charge by scoring the next five points to take a 60-49 lead with 2:10 left in the game. Minnesota Crookston looked to make a late charge as Vetsch made a three with just over a minute remaining as the Golden Eagles trailed by eight. Minnesota Crookston looked to make a bigger dent as Post got a bucket off a steal with under a minute remaining. However, Mitby put a stamp on the win with a jumper and Metoxen hit 1-of-2 from the line as the Vikings took the win 63-54 over Minnesota Crookston.

The Golden Eagles return to the Lysaker Gymnasium floor Sat., Dec. 14 at 3:30 p.m. at Lysaker Gymnasium.