MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University shot 49.2 percent from the field and scored 38 points as they earned the 77-66 win over the University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team. The Golden Eagles trailed just 15-14 after the first quarter and remained close with the Beavers throughout most of Friday evening's game, but Minot State was able to hit the crucial shots in the victory.

Minnesota Crookston falls to 4-19 (3-16 NSIC) with Friday's loss at the Minot State Dome. Minot State moves to 7-16 (4-15 NSIC) with the victory. Minnesota Crookston and Minot State split the 2019-20 series as the Golden Eagles earned the win at Lysaker Gymnasium earlier this season.

Minnesota Crookston had four players tally double-figure scoring on the night. Alyssa Peterson (Fr., G, Menahga, Minn.) led the way with 14 points on 5-of-9 from the field, and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. Emma Carpenter (Fr., G, Eagan, Minn.) chipped in 12 points on 3-of-7 from the field. Bren Fox (So., F/C, Norwood Young America, Minn.) added 12 points and six rebounds, while Mattea Vetsch (Fr., G, Devils Lake, N.D.) finished with 10 points.

The Golden Eagles shot 20-of-57 from the field for 35.1 percent. Minnesota Crookston was 8-of-22 for 36.4 percent from beyond the arc. They were 18-of-22 for 81.8 percent from the foul line. Minnesota Crookston had 33 points off the bench. The Golden Eagles had 12 assists to just 11 turnovers on the night.

Minot State looked to Calli Delsman with 17 points and seven boards. Mariah Payne chipped in 15 points and dished out 12 assists for a double-double. Mollie Wilson and Anna Counts each chipped in 10 points.

The Beavers shot 30-of-61 from the field for 49.2 percent. They were 7-of-14 from distance for 50.0 percent and an unblemished 10-of-10 from the stripe. Minot State narrowly won the rebounding edge 31-29. The Beavers had 25 assists to just 12 turnovers on the evening. They were able to get into the paint throughout the night, evidenced by 38 points.

Minot State got out to an early 5-3 lead following a Delsman triple. Minnesota Crookston countered with a 5-0 run as the Golden Eagles took an 8-5 advantage following a pair of Vetsch free throws. Minot State responded with a 4-0 rally as the Beavers moved into the 9-8 advantage following a pair of Mollie Wilson free throws.

The Beavers were able to push out to a 13-10 advantage following a basket from Wilson. A 4-0 run for the Golden Eagles was culminated by a bucket from Post as Minnesota Crookston took a 14-13 lead with 1:33 remaining in the first quarter. A Delsman jumper off a pain assist gave Minot State the 15-14 advantage going into the quarter break.

A Guidinger three-pointer to open the second quarter put Minnesota Crookston back on top 17-15. The Beavers countered with a 4-0 run as a Delsman jumper gave Minot State the 19-17 lead. Carpenter evened the tally for Minnesota Crookston 19-19 on the next possession.

Minot State responded as Theodore and Payne knocked down consecutive triples to give the Beavers a 25-19 lead. A Carpenter trey brought Minnesota Crookston back within 25-22 with 5:42 remaining in the second stanza. The Golden Eagles were able to keep it within three 27-24 after a pair of free throws from Peterson. Minnesota Crookston would trail 30-24 after Breianna Smestad put in a triple. However, the Golden Eagles countered with a jumper from Peterson to trim the deficit to 30-26.

Minot State closed the second quarter on an 8-4 run as they went into the locker room with a 38-30 advantage.

Vetsch opened the scoring up in the third frame for Minnesota Crookston as her tally knocked the lead down to 38-32. Minot State responded with a 5-0 run as a Payne trey and a Wilson jumper extended the advantage to 43-32. The Golden Eagles brought the lead down to 43-35 as Vetsch drained a triple off a freed from Burke.

A Payne triple, and a basket from Counts pushed the Minot State advantage to 48-35 with 6:15 remaining in the third stanza. The Beavers would take control as they widened the gap to 52-37 as Theodore found Delsman for two.

Free throws from Fox and Post spurred on a 4-0 run for Minnesota Crookston as they trimmed the deficit to 52-41 with 3:09 remaining in the third frame. A Peterson jumper from the left wing brought the score back within nine points as Minnesota Crookston cut the score to 54-45. A foul for the Beavers sent Carpenter to the stripe where she drained a pair to trim the lead to 54-47 with 18.1 seconds left in the third stanza. A Counts jumper at the buzzer for Minot State would come just in time to give the Beavers a 56-47 lead going into the break.

A Peterson trey from the right wing brought Minnesota Crookston within 58-52 early in the fourth quarter. Minot State responded on the next possession as Lucy Chapman sank three to extend the lead to 61-52 with 8:17 remaining in the game. The Beavers used the try to start a 7-0 run as a Wilson bucket gave Minot State the 65-52 advantage.

Minnesota Crookston got the deficit back down to 10 at 65-55 after Carpenter sank a pair from the line with 6:33 left in the game. A Delsman jumper as time expired on the shot clock pushed the lead to 67-55. The Golden Eagles were able to cut the deficit back to 10 after an Amber Schoenicke (Sr., F/C, Marshall, Wis.) basket. The Beavers pushed the lead out to 12, but Minnesota Crookston responded with a Peterson trey to get it back to nine with under three minutes remaining. The Beavers were able to widen the gap to 11 after a bucket and didn't look back as they earned the 77-66 victory.

Minnesota Crookston returns to action Sat., Feb. 14 with a 3:30 p.m. tip at University of Mary at McDowell Activity Center in Bismarck, N.D.