GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team led NCAA Division I foe University of North Dakota 38-35 at the half, but third quarter struggles led to a 81-61 loss to the Fighting Hawks. The final exhibition tune-up for the Golden Eagles was held Thursday, November 4 at Betty Engelstad Sioux Center in Grand Forks, N.D.

The Golden Eagles played two Division I opponents in exhibition play with the Fighting Hawks and the University of Minnesota.

UMN Crookston was led by Bren Fox (R-Jr., F/C, Norwood Young America, Minn.) with 15 points and seven rebounds. Mary Burke (Sr., F, Eveleth, Minn.) finished with nine points. Jes Mertens (So., G/F, Devils Lake, N.D.) had eight points and nine rebounds. Kylie Post (Sr., G, Corcoran, Minn.) added nine points, while Abi Fraaza (Fr., F, Birnamwood, Wis.) finished with eight points.

The Golden Eagles shot 17-of-49 from the field for 34.7 percent. They were 7-of-18 from beyond the arc for 38.9 percent. UMN Crookston shot 20-of-30 for 66.7 percent from the charity stripe. Minnesota Crookston won the rebound battle 41-39, including 15 offensive rebounds.

UND shot 30-of-69 from the field for 43.5 percent. The Golden Eagles held the Fighting Hawks to just 21.4 percent from distance. UND was 18-of-25 from the foul line for 72.0 percent.

North Dakota have five players score in double figures. Olivia Lane led the Fighting Hawks with 18 points and eight rebounds. Claire Orth notched 11 points, while Kacie Borowicz added 11 points. Melissa Leet notched 10 points and six rebounds. Jolene Daninger finished with 13 points.

Minnesota Crookston jumped out to a 7-0 lead out of the gate guided by a Burke trey. UND went on a 12-0 run to take the 12-7 lead following a Daninger three-pointer. Minnesota Crookston was able to overtake North Dakota 15-14 with 3:00 remaining in the first quarter following a Fraaza lay-in. The two teams continued to trade buckets as they were tied up 20-20 following Fox free throws with 39 seconds remaining. After a UND miss, Burke drained a three-pointer as the clock expired to send Minnesota Crookston to a 23-20 lead into the quarter break.

UND scored the first two buckets in the second quarter, taking the 24-23 lead on a Daninger basket. Minnesota Crookston responded with back-to-back Abigail Leach (Jr., G/F, Wyoming, Minn.) to take the 29-24 advantage. UND responded with an Orth pull-up, along with a Daninger three-pointer to knot the game back up 29-29. Minnesota Crookston used a Fox lay-up and an Alex Page (Fr., F, Grand Forks, N.D.) trey to take the lead 36-31. Minnesota Crookston went into the locker room with a 38-35 advantage.

UND started out the third quarter with a 5-0 run guided by an Orth old-fashioned three-point play to put UND ahead 40-38. A bucket from Post knotted the game up 40-40. The game would be tied 42-42 after a Fox basket. UND was able to take the lead 48-43 on a Leet jumper. The Golden Eagles cut the deficit to 48-46 on a Burke three-pointer. UND closed out the third quarter on an 11-4 run as the Fighting Hawks took a 59-50 lead into the quarter break.

UND started out the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run, widening the gap to 67-50. Minnesota Crookston pulled back within 13 at 71-58 with a Fraaza bucket. The Golden Eagles were however unable to cut much further into the gap, as they fell 81-61.  

Minnesota Crookston opens the regular-season Friday, November 12 against the University of Nebraska-Kearney at 5 p.m. in Maryville, Mo.