ST. CLOUD, Minn. – St. Cloud State University opened the game on a 20-2 run and didn't look back as they picked up the 69-48 win over the University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team. The Golden Eagles made an effort in the third quarter to make a comeback, as they started the quarter on an 8-1 run. Minnesota Crookston was able to cut the deficit to seven points with 4:53 left in the third quarter, but that was as close as the Golden Eagles would get.

Minnesota Crookston falls to 2-9 (1-6 NSIC) with Friday night's loss. St. Cloud State moved to 7-4 (4-3 NSIC) with Friday's win at Halenbeck Hall in St. Cloud, Minn. The Huskies have won the last five meetings in the series.

The Golden Eagles were guided by Alyssa Peterson (Fr., G, Menahga, Minn.) with 17 points. Peterson was 5-of-12 from the field, and 5-of-9 from beyond the arc. Peterson's performance set a season-high for the newcomer, eclipsing her 15 points Dec. 6 at Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Kylie Post (So., G, Corcoran, Minn.) added eight points and eight rebounds. Abby Guidinger (Jr., G/F, Waukesha, Wis.) chipped in seven points, as did Mary Burke (R-Fr., F, Eveleth, Minn.). Burke also added six rebounds.

The Golden Eagles shot 17-of-51 for 33.3 percent from the field on Friday's game. Minnesota Crookston hit 6-of-23 from beyond the arc for 26.1 percent and were 8-of-11 from the stripe for 72.7 percent.

Minnesota Crookston had 16 turnovers on Friday's game. The Golden Eagles were out-rebounded 46-25 on the day. St. Cloud State had 16 offensive rebounds leading back to 14 second-chance points.

St. Cloud State had five players tally double-figure scoring. Nikki Kilboten paced the Huskies in the post with 14 points and eight boards. Kelsey Peschel came off the bench with 12 points, five assists, and three steals. Katrina Theis added 10 points and seven rebounds, including six of the offensive variety. Madelin Dammann finished with 10 points, as did Brehna Evans.

The Huskies jetted out to a 20-2 lead lifted by seven points from Dammann and six from Kilboten. Minnesota Crookston halted the run with a 7-0 rally of their own as a trey from Burke cut the lead to 20-9 with 3:12 left in the first quarter. St. Cloud State went into the quarter break ahead 24-11 following a Kilboten bucket.

The Golden Eagles opened up the second stanza with a Post bucket as they trimmed the lead to 24-13. The Huskies countered with a 6-0 run guided by four points from Evans as St. Cloud State went ahead 30-13.

Minnesota Crookston fought back with a 7-2 run as Peterson drained a triple to bring the Golden Eagles within 32-20 with 4:14 remaining in the second quarter. St. Cloud State countered as they closed the quarter on an 8-5 run to go into the locker room with a 40-25 advantage.

The Golden Eagles caught fire early in the third stanza as they went on an 8-1 run propelled by three points from Peterson and three from Guidinger. The early run sliced the lead to 41-33 with 8:53 remaining in the third quarter.

Minnesota Crookston hung right in the battle as the teams traded baskets for the next four minutes until Peterson hit a trey to trim the deficit to 45-38 with 4:53 left in the third. St. Cloud State was able to come up in the big spot as they held off the charge with a 4-0 run, going ahead 49-38.

The Golden Eagles would trail 52-41 after a basket from Post, but St. Cloud State would close out the quarter with a 6-0 run as the Huskies went into the break 58-41.
Minnesota Crookston got as close as 14 points in the fourth quarter after Peterson's fifth trey of the game, but that would be as close as it would get as the Huskies took the 69-48 win over the Golden Eagles.

Minnesota Crookston returns to action Sat., Jan. 4 at 3:30 p.m. against University of Minnesota Duluth at Romano Gymnasium in Duluth, Minn.