Box Score MOORHEAD, Minn. – Minnesota State University Moorhead outscored the University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team 77-67 in the third quarter to upend the Golden Eagles 77-67 Fri., Jan. 8 at Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse. UMN Crookston went into the locker room down just 32-31, but the third quarter catapulted the Dragons to their sixth-straight win in the series.

The Golden Eagles fall to 0-3 (0-1 NSIC) with Saturday's loss, while MSU Moorhead improves to 2-1 (1-0 NSIC).

Top Players
Minnesota Crookston looked to the play of freshman Jes Mertens (G/F, Devils Lake, N.D.) with 17 points and five rebounds. Mertens is the sister of Jake Mertens, who competes for the MSU Moorhead men's basketball team. She added six steals for the game. Mary Burke (R-So., F, Virginia, Minn.) came off the bench for 16 points and five rebounds. Emma Carpenter (Fr., G, Eagan, Minn.) added 11 points. Kylie Post (Jr., G, Corcoran, Minn.) chipped in eight points.

The Dragons had four players scored in double figures for the evening. Mariah McKeever paced MSU Moorhead with 18 points. Peyton Boom chipped in 15 points and nine rebounds, while Natalie Steichen and Nicole Brown each finished with 13.

Key Stats
The Golden Eagles had a strong game from the field, shooting 24-of-44 for 54.5 percent. UMN Crookston was 9-of-15 from beyond the arc for 60.0 percent, led by Carpenter who was 3-of-4 from behind the three-point line, while Burke was 3-of-5. The Golden Eagles were 10-of-15 for 66.7 percent.
Minnesota Crookston struggled to keep the ball on the night as they had seven assists to 22 turnovers.

The Dragons captured the rebounding edge 34-23. MSU Moorhead was 33-of-67 from, the field for 49.3 percent. The Dragons were 5-of-16 from beyond the arc for 31.3 percent, and 6-of-9 for 66.7 percent. MSU Moorhead scored 46 points on the night in the paint, while they had 20 points off turnovers.

Key Runs
The Golden Eagles got out to a 10-6 lead early on following a Carpenter trey. The two teams ended the first quarter tied 16-16 following a Paige Thompson free throw. UMN Crookston took a 20-19 lead with 8:44 left in the third quarter following a Bren Fox (Jr., F/C, Norwood Young America, Minn.) jumper. The Dragons countered with a three-pointer from McKeever and a pair from Emma Thuringer to take the lead 24-20. A Carpenter jumper at the end of the first half brought UMN Crookston within 32-31 at the half.

The Dragons opened the first half on a 14-5 run as a Steichen old-fashioned three-point play made it 46-36 with 6:48 left in the third quarter. The Golden Eagles got the lead down to 50-44 with a jumper from Post. However, MSU Moorhead was able to push the lead back out to 57-48 later in the third quarter with a pair from Boom. The Dragons led 61-52 moving into the fourth quarter.

The Golden Eagles got the lead down to seven (70-63) following a jumper from Post with 3:42 left in the game. However, the Dragons were able to put UMN Crookston away down the stretch to capture a 77-67 win.

Up Next
Minnesota Crookston will take on MSU Moorhead in the second game of the series Sat., Jan. 9 at 2 p.m. at Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse in Moorhead, Minn.