Crookston, Minn.—MSU Moorhead overcame a slow first quarter start to defeat Minnesota Crookston 95-59 inside Lysaker Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Dragons continue their solid season, improving to 13-4 overall (6-2 NSIC), while the Golden Eagles fall to 2-12 (1-7 NSIC).
 
Abby Guidinger (Jr., F, Waukesha, Wis.) got the Golden Eagles off to a fast start, with a three on the Golden Eagles first possession, to give the Golden Eagles a quick 3-0 lead.
 
Throughout the first half, the two teams would trade buckets. Minnesota Crookston took their largest lead of the game at seven, after a three from Ashley Fruend (Jr., G, Jordan, Minn.) and two makes from the free throw line from Julia Peplinski (So., F, Hustisford, Wis.), which gave the Golden Eagles an 18-11 lead midway through the first quarter.
 
Minnesota Crookston would lead 25-18 at the end of the first quarter.
 
The second quarter would be all Dragons, who showed their defensive prowess, holding Minnesota Crookston to just five second quarter points. The Dragons outscored Minnesota Crookston 27-5 in the second quarter, to take a 45-30 lead into the halftime break.
 
In the third quarter, the Golden Eagles would get as close as eleven, following two buckets from Kylie Post (So., G, Corcoran, Minn.) and a three from Mary Burke (R-Fr., G/F, Virginia, Minn.).
 
MSUM would end the quarter on a 17-0 run, to take a 69-42 lead over the Golden Eagles, heading into the final stanza.
 
The Dragons would shoot 68.7 percent in the final three quarters and 58 percent in the entire game, to defeat the Golden Eagles and sweep the season series.
 
The Golden Eagles had three scorers in double-figures, led by Guidinger's 16 and Burke and Peplinski, who each finished with 12. As a team, the Golden Eagles shot 34.5 percent from the field.
 
Minnesota Crookston hits the road next weekend, starting next Friday night for a date with the Winona State Warriors. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. from McCown Gymnasium in Winona, Minn.