Crookston, Minn. – It was a game that came down to the last shot on Friday night in Lysaker gymnasium between Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State University in women's basketball.
 
In the final seconds, Mary Burke (Fr., G, Virginia, Minn.) caught the inbounds pass and had enough time to turn around and get up a three that would have won the Golden Eagles the game. Out of her hands the shot looked good, but the ball came up just inches short as the buzzer sounded, falling 79-77.
 
The Golden Eagles move to 3-12 (3-10 NSIC) and the Beavers move to 8-5 (7-4 NSIC).
 
Key Players
Bren Fox (Jr., F, Norwood Young America, Minn.) and Julia Peplinski (Jr., F, Hustisford, Wis.) led the way in scoring for the Golden Eagles tonight with 16 points each. Emma Carpenter (So., G, Eagan, Minn.) was able to drop 13. Burke was the final Golden Eagle who had double digit scoring with 10. Peplinski led the team in rebounding with eight and Kylie Post (Jr., G, Corcoran, Minn.) was able to grab six. Jes Mertens (Fr., G, Devils Lake, N.D.) and Burke each added two steals for the Golden Eagles.
 
The Beavers were led in scoring by Rachael Heittola who had 25. Brooklyn Bachmann was able to add on 15 points. Coley Rezabek had 13 and Taylor Bray had 12.
 
Key Stats
 
It was a game dominated by the offensive side of the ball for both teams. Each team made the same amount of baskets (26) but BSU shot three less shots than UMN Crookston (55 to 58). The Golden Eagles used the three-ball to keep them in the game tonight shooting 8 for 18 from behind the arc, while Bemidji State shot 4-15 from deep.
 
Free throws and rebounds were key to the Beavers being able to finish the game on top. They had a 37-30 advantage in rebounds over the Golden Eagles and shot 23-25 from the free throw line. The Golden Eagles shot 17-25.
 
Key Plays
Bemidji came out of the gates quickly jumping to a 6-1 lead. The Golden Eagles had an answer with a 7-2 run of their own. The Beavers were getting a lot of easy baskets inside throughout the first quarter.
 
Midway through the second the Golden Eagles got a burst of energy and went on a 12-3 run and were able to tie the game. The Beavers were able to close out the half strong, though, putting up 10 points to the Golden Eagles five in the last couple of minutes to go into halftime with a 41-35 lead.
 
Most of the third quarter was the two teams trading baskets. But, towards the end of the third and through the start of the fourth, the Golden Eagles were able to go on a huge 13-5 run to put them up four.
 
Trailing 78-74, a Pelinski rebound off of a Carpenter miss from deep allowed Peplinski to kick it back out to Burke, who was able to bury a three from the left wing, sending Lysaker Gymnasium into a frenzy and cutting the Beaver lead to just one.
 
The Beavers would get a chance to extend their late lead to three. The Beavers made the first and intentionally missed the second to kill some clock. Burke was able to get a solid shot off that looked like it was going in, but came up just short and the Golden Eagles lost a heartbreaker, 79-77.
 
Up Next
The Golden Eagles will close out their season tomorrow with a rematch against Bemidji State at 1:30 in Lysaker Gymnasium.