DULUTH, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team turned the ball over 21 times as they fell 77-49 to the University of Minnesota Duluth Fri., Feb. 22 at Romano Gymnasium in Duluth, Minn. The Bulldogs used a big third quarter as they bested the Golden Eagles 23-10 to set themselves up for the big win. Minnesota Duluth out-scored Minnesota Crookston 41-21.

Minnesota Crookston falls to 10-17 (5-16 NSIC) with Friday's loss. Minnesota Duluth moves to 18-6 (17-4 NSIC). The Bulldogs still have a shot at a share of the NSIC North title. The Golden Eagles have lost their ninth straight. Minnesota Crookston still has a chance at the No. 6 seed if they beat St. Cloud State Saturday, and Northern State University loses to Minot State University. If the Golden Eagles remain as the No. 7 seed in the NSIC North, they will more than likely play University of Sioux Falls. If Minnesota Crookston moves up to the No. 6 seed, they could play at either Augustana University or Winona State University.

The Golden Eagles were led by 11 points from Bren Fox (Fr., F/C, Norwood Young America, Minn.). Isieoma Odor (R-Sr., F/C, Bloomington, Minn.) added 10 points and five rebounds. Odor needs 81 points to surpass Katrina Nordick for third all-time in career scoring at Minnesota Crookston. She is guaranteed two more games in her career.

Julia Peplinski (Fr., F/C, Hustisford, Wis.) came off the bench for six points and four rebounds.

Minnesota Crookston shot 17-of-43 from the field for 39.5 percent. The Golden Eagles were just 2-of-14 from behind the three-point line for 14.3 percent. Minnesota Crookston was 13-of-20 from the stripe for 65.0 percent.

The Golden Eagles were out-rebounded Friday 35-29. The Bulldogs brought down nine offensive rebounds. Minnesota Crookston had nine assists to 21 turnovers.
Minnesota Duluth was guided by 22 points from Sammy Kozlowski, who added five assists. Sarah Grow chipped in 12 points. Brooke Olson came off the bench for 11 points and six boards.

The Bulldogs shot 29-of-59 from the field for 49.2 percent. Minnesota Duluth was 7-of-22 for 31.8 percent from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs were 12-of-16 for 75.0 percent from the foul line. They had 16 assists to just 10 turnovers in Friday's tilt.

Minnesota Crookston started the game by scoring the first four points after Odor nailed a jumper, and Fox put-back a bucket. Kozlowski got the Bulldogs on the board as she connected on a bucket. The Golden Eagles moved their advantage to 8-2 as Odor found Fox in the post for a lay-in.

Minnesota Duluth pulled within 8-7 as Kozlowski hit a long trey. Paige Weakley (Jr., G/F, Kearney, Mo.) answered on the other end for Minnesota Crookston to push the lead back out to 11-7. The Bulldogs came back with a 4-0 run as Kozlowski found Payton Kahl for the breakaway bucket to knot the game up 11-11. Minnesota Duluth extended their run to 6-0 as Olson scored in the post to put the Bulldogs up 13-11.

Minnesota Duluth moved their lead to 16-13 as Ann Simonet drained a triple. The Golden Eagles tied the game at 17-17 on an Odor bucket. The Bulldogs went into the quarter break with a 19-17 advantage following a Grow jumper.

The Golden Eagles would turn it over seven times in the first quarter, which helped contribute to the Bulldogs early lead.

The Bulldogs moved their lead to 22-17 as Kozlowski completed the old-fashioned three-point play. The Golden Eagles cut the deficit to 22-21 after buckets from Odor and Weakley. Minnesota Duluth pushed their lead out to 26-21 following a Grow jumper, and a Simonet basket.

The Golden Eagles pulled to within 26-23 on a Fox jumper, however Simonet countered with a trey on the other end as the Bulldogs took the 29-23 lead. Minnesota Crookston did not give in as Paige Cornale (Fr., G, Oak Creek, Wis.) hit a three-pointer to slice the deficit to 29-26. The Golden Eagles had opportunities to trim the lead further, but were unable to. Minnesota Duluth utilized a basket from Olson to extend the lead out to 31-26.

Odor drove to the hoop for two to cut the lead down to 31-28. However, Katie Stark countered on the other end for a trey to move the lead back out to 34-28. An offensive board and a Taylor Schneider jumper extended the lead for the Bulldogs to 36-28, their largest of the first half. The Bulldogs went into the locker room with the 36-28 advantage.

Minnesota Duluth opened the second half with a Grow lay-in as they pushed their advantage out to 38-28. The Bulldogs pushed their run to 7-0 as a Kozlowski bucket pushed the lead out to 43-28. Minnesota Crookston scored their first points of the second half with a pair of Odor free throws to pull within 43-30.

The Bulldogs got some luck on the other end, as an Olson three had a home friendly bounce to push the lead to 46-30. Minnesota Duluth extended their advantage to 51-32 as Emma Boehm drained a three from the corner. A Kozlowski bucket pushed the lead out to 53-32.

The Golden Eagles used three free throws from Fox and Julia Peplinski to cut the deficit to 53-35. Minnesota Duluth out-scored Minnesota Crookston 23-10 in the third quarter as they went into the quarter break with the 59-38 lead.

The Bulldogs utilized a Kozlowski three-point early in the fourth quarter to move their lead to 64-40. Minnesota Duluth pushed their lead out to 68-41 with an Olson bucket. The Bulldogs continued their strong second half play as they took the win 77-49.

The Golden Eagles wrap up the regular-season Sat., Feb. 23 at St. Cloud State University at 3:30 p.m. at Halenbeck Hall in St. Cloud, Minn.