WINONA, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team fell 75-55 to Winona State University. The Warriors out-scored the Golden Eagles 19-10 in the second quarter as Winona State picked up the victory over Minnesota Crookston.
The Golden Eagles fall to 2-13 (1-10 NSIC) with Friday's loss at McCown Gymnasium in Winona, Minn. Winona State improved to 11-4 (7-4 NSIC). The Warriors are currently in second place in the NSIC South.
The Golden Eagles were propelled by 10 points and six rebounds off the bench from Julia Peplinski (So., F/C, Hustisford, Wis.). Abby Guidinger (Jr., G/F, Waukesha, Wis.) added 10 points and three assists. Kylie Post (So., G, Corcoran, Minn.) also added 10 points for Minnesota Crookston.
Mary Burke (R-Fr., F/C, Virginia, Minn.) continued her strong play of late with nine points and eight rebounds. Alyssa Peterson (Fr., G, Menahga, Minn.) added nine points.
The Golden Eagles shot 22-of-56 from the field for 39.3 percent. Minnesota Crookston finished the night 5-of-24 from beyond the arc for 20.8 percent. The Golden Eagles went 6-of-8 from the stripe for 75.0 percent. The Golden Eagles had 18 turnovers on the night. Winona State won the rebounding edge 37-34 on the night.
Winona State looked to 21 points and five rebounds from Allie Pickrain, who was 5-of-9 from behind the three-point line. Taylor Hustad chipped in 14 points and eight boards, while Jenna Bruss added 11 points, including going 3-of-3 from beyond the arc.
The Warriors shot 31-of-69 from the field for 44.9 percent. Winona State was strong from beyond the arc, where they were 10-of-24 for 41.7 percent. The Warriors finished the night 3-of-4 from the foul line for 75.0 percent.
Minnesota Crookston got on the Golden he board first with a basket from Mattea Vetsch (Fr., G, Devils Lake, N.D.). The Warriors countered with a 9-0 run as they went ahead 9-2 following a Hustad jumper. The Golden Eagles halted the run with a Peplinski old-fashioned three-point play as Minnesota Crookston trimmed the deficit to 9-5.
The Warriors answered with a three-pointer from Emily Kieck, but Minnesota Crookston counted on the other end with a Burke jumper as the Golden Eagles cut the lead to 12-7 with 4:21 remaining in the first quarter. Minnesota Crookston pushed their run to 6-0 with a free throw from Post and a three-pointer from Guidinger as they pulled within one at 12-11.
The Golden Eagles continued their strong play and extended their run to 8-0 as Post picked off a Shea Dechant pass and took it to the hoop for two to give Minnesota Crookston the 13-12 lead. Winona State finally stopped the run with a Dechant jumper to give the Warriors a 14-13 advantage.
Minnesota Crooskton responded with another steal and made lay-up on the offensive end as the Golden Eagles took the 15-14 advantage. Winona State knotted the game up at 15-15 as Ava Sergio went 1-of-2 from the line. The Warriors went into the quarter break with a 17-15 lead after Hustad hit a jumper at the close of the first frame.
Winona State struck first in the second stanza as Kieck kicked it out to Pickrain for a trey to give the Warriors a 20-15 lead. Guidinger responded with a triple of her own for Minnesota Crookston to trim the deficit to 20-18 with 8:44 remaining in the second quarter. The three-point barrage persisted as Pickrain hit her second of the quarter to widen the gap to 23-18.
The Warriors used a Bruss three-pointer to push the lead out to 28-20 with 6:23 left in the quarter. Winona State pushed their run to 12-2 with a Caitlin Riley jumper and a basket from Emma Fee as they took the 32-20 advantage.
Minnesota Crookston picked up their first points in five minutes as Burke sank a trey off a Guidinger assist to cut the deficit to 32-23. Winona State countered with a 4-0 run to widen the gap to 36-23. A Burke basket trimmed the lead to 36-25 with 2:08 left in the second stanza. The Warriors went into the break with a 36-25 lead.
Winona State started out the third quarter with a Kieck bucket, as they pushed the lead out to 38-25. Minnesota Crookston responded with their first bucket of the third quarter as Peterson connected on a jumper to trim the deficit to 38-27.
The Warriors utilized buckets from Sydney Lodermeier and Hustad to widen the gap to 42-27. Guidinger got the Golden Eagles back on the board with a jumper to cut the lead to 42-29. However, Winona State came right back with another 4-0 run as a Sergio bucket pushed the lead out to 46-29.
Minnesota Crookston responded with a 5-0 run propelled by Peterson, as they cut the deficit to 46-34. Winona State came right back with a 4-0 rally of their own as a Hustad jumper stretched the lead out to 50-34 with 3:51 remaining in the third quarter.
The Golden Eagles did not throw up the white flag as they pulled within 52-41 as a Peplinski bucket capped off a 7-2 run. Winona State's Bruss drained a trey to stop the run and put the Warriors up 55-41.
The Warriors went into the break ahead 60-45 after a Pickrain bucket.
Lodermeier commenced the scoring for Winona State in the fourth quarter as she pushed the advantage to 62-45 for the Warriors. Winona State extended their lead to 64-45 with a Sergio jumper. Minnesota Crookston finally got on the board in the fourth quarter as Burke sank a jumper to cut the deficit to 64-47.
The Golden Eagles utilized an old-fashioned three-point play from Post to trim the lead down to 64-50. Winona State had an answer on the other end as Pickrain hit her fourth 3-pointer of the game to push the advantage to 67-50. The Warriors looked to put away Minnesota Crookston with a Pickrain trey as they pushed the lead out to 73-51.
Minnesota Crookston got the lead down to 75-55 on a Peplinski bucket, but it would not be enough as Winona State came away with the 75-55 win.
Minnesota Crookston returns to the court Sat., Jan. 18 at 3:30 p.m. against Upper Iowa University at Dorman Gymnasium in Fayette, Iowa.
