CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Mary started the fourth quarter on an 11-2 run which ultimately lifted the Marauders to a 59-55 win over the University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team. The Golden Eagles closed it to within 57-55 with 15 seconds left but Lauren Rotunda would sink a pair of free throws to clinch the game for UMary.

Minnesota Crookston falls to 2-7 (2-5 NSIC) with Friday's loss at Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium. UMary improves to 2-5 (2-5 NSIC) with the victory for UMN Crookston.

Top Players
Kylie Post (Jr., G, Corcoran, Minn.) paced Minnesota Crookston with 14 points on 6-of-8 from the field. Jes Mertens (Fr., G, Devils Lake, N.D.) chipped in 12 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Haylee Wheeler (Fr., F, Lakeville, Minn.) came off the bench for eight points. Mary Burke (R-So., F, Virginia, Minn.) added six points and five steals.

UMary looked to Lexie Schneider with a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds. Rotunda added a double-double of 18 points and 10 boards, while Macy Williams contributed 10 points.

Key Statistics
The Golden Eagles shot 21-of-53 from the field for 39.6 percent. UMN Crookston struggled from beyond the arc hitting just 4-of-14 of their shots for 28.6 percent. They also had their woes from the charity stripe where they went 9-of-15 for 60.0 percent.
UMary shot 22-of-57 for 38.6 percent. The Marauders went 5-of-17 from beyond the arc for 29.4 percent and 10-of-13 from the foul line for 76.9 percent.

The Marauders won the battle of the glass 42-29 with 12 offensive rebounds. UMary had 30 points in the paint on the night. The Marauders had 17 turnovers, while UMN Crookston had 14.

Key Runs
UMary got out to the 7-2 advantage following a Megan Voit trey. Minnesota Crookston followed with a 14-2 run as a Post basket put the Golden Eagles ahead 16-9. The Marauders closed the first quarter off with a basket from Schneider off an assist from Williams as UMN Crookston went into the quarter break up 16-11.

UMary used a 6-3 run to open the quarter to pull within 19-17 on a Schneider basket with 7:12 left in the half. The Marauders continued to threaten Minnesota Crookston's lead as a Schneider old-fashioned three-point play trimmed the lead to one at 21-20. The Golden Eagles responded with a 5-0 run as Post utilized an old-fashioned three-point play of her own to make it 26-20. UMary closed the half on a 7-2 run as a Reese Wishart basket closed the gap to 28-27 going into the locker room.

The Marauders opened the third quarter on a 4-2 run as a Rotunda bucket gave UMary a 31-30 lead. UMary used an 8-3 run to push out to a 39-33 lead with 5:35 left in the quarter. Minnesota Crookston responded with a 9-1 run as a pair of Mertens free throws gave the Golden Eagles a 42-40 advantage with 3:03 left in the quarter. A Rotunda bucket with 2:12 left in the quarter knotted the game up 42-42. Neither team scored in the final two minutes of play as the score remained 42-42 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Marauders utilized a 9-2 run to open the fourth quarter to take the 53-44 advantage. Minnesota Crookston chipped away at the lead cutting the deficit to 55-53 with 43 seconds remaining on an Emma Carpenter (So., G, Eagan, Minn.) bucket. The Golden Eagles remained down just two until Rotunda clinched the 59-55 win with two free throws to give UMary the win.

Up Next
Minnesota Crookston will remain at home to take on UMary at 1:30 p.m. at Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium.