CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team looked to get their second win in as many games in Lysaker Gymnasium Friday night against the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs. The Golden Eagles were unsuccessful in their efforts however, dropping the game 67-45 to the sixth-ranked Bulldogs. The Golden Eagles were unable to find a rhythm for most of the game. Threes were not falling and free throws were less abundant than usual for the Golden Eagles. UMN Crookston falls to 3-8 (3-6 NSIC) and UMN Duluth stays undefeated moving to 6-0 (4-0 NSIC) on the year.

Top Players – The Golden Eagles were led in scoring by Bren Fox (Jr. C, Norwood Young America, Minn.) who had 10. Fox was the only Golden Eagle in double digits tonight. Behind her was Kylie Post (Jr., G, Corcoran, Minn.) who had nine. Mary Burke (R-So., F, Virginia, Minn.) and Haylee Wheeler (Fr., F, Lakeville, Minn.) both finished the game with eight points. Fox led the Golden Eagles in rebounds Friday night with six. Jes Mertens (Fr., G, Devils Lake, N.D.) and Wheeler each added four. Mertens, Wheeler, and Emma Carpenter (So., G, Eagan, Minn.) all led the Golden Eagles in steals with two.

The Bulldogs were led in scoring by Brooke Olson who had 20. Sarah Grow was the only other Bulldog in double digits tonight with 12. Maesyn Thiesen and Ella Gilbertson both had seven.

Key Stats – Neither team was able to find consistency when it came to shooting the ball. The Bulldogs shot 25-61 from the field and the Golden Eagles shot 15-56. Three pointers did not want to go in for either team tonight as UMN Duluth shot 5-of-15 and UMN Crookston shot 5-of-19. The Golden Eagles got outrebounded by a big margin, 46-33. The Golden Eagles managed to have a higher free throw percentage going 10-13, but the Bulldogs still were able to get more and make more, shooting 12-of-17 from the line.

Key Runs – The Golden Eagles took an early 3-2 lead to start and did not see the lead again for the rest of the game. The majority of the first half the Bulldogs looked like the better team. Hitting the shots they were given and forcing the Golden Eagles to take bad shots throughout the half. The Golden Eagles were able to go on a 10-3 run midway through the second to bring the game back within double digits. Shortly after the Bulldogs went on a 7-0 run to close out the half and go into the locker room up 40-24.

The second half was more of the same for the Golden Eagles, but the Bulldogs were not hitting shots as efficiently as they were in the first half. Even with the lackluster offense, Duluth was able to continue to get the Golden Eagles to take bad shots. The end of the third quarter saw the Golden Eagles go on a 9-4 run to bring the game back within 10. Following that run the Golden Eagles were unable to break through the UMN Duluth defense and lost the game 67-45.


Up Next – The Golden Eagles will look to avoid the sweep against the Bulldogs on Saturday at Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium at 1:30 p.m.