Crookston, Minn. – Despite Emma Miller (Fr., G, Albertville, Minn) and her career-high 20 points, Northern Michigan was able to use a big run early in the third quarter for the 74-64 victory in Crookston on Thursday night in non-conference play.
 
The Golden Eagles fall to 0-3 on the season, while the Wildcats improve to 3-0 on the young season.
 
Miller would be well on her way to a career night, scoring the first four of her team's six points in the game.
 
A jumper and a three from Alex Page (So., F, Grand Forks, N.D.) would help give the Golden Eagles a 13-8 lead midway through the first quarter.
 
Bren Fox (R-Sr., C, Norwood Young America, Minn.) would bury her first of two three's in the game and Natalie Mikrot (Fr., G, Willow River, Minn.) would follow that up with a three of her own.
 
Minnesota Crookston would go into the first quarter break with an 11-point lead.
 
NMU would cut the lead to just six with 7:17 remaining in the half, but the Golden Eagles would take a 15 point lead with 5:34 remaining on a Miller layup.
 
That would be the last basket for the Golden Eagles of the half, as they would lead by just eight at halftime.
 
In the second half, NMU would begin to show their muscles. NMU would score the first four points of the half, but Erika Lane (So., G, Breezy Point, Minn.) would bury a huge three to push the lead back up to seven.
 
Mikrot would splash home another three, giving Minnesota Crookston a 44-38 lead, but the Wildcats would flip the game on its head with a 14-0 run, heading into the final ten minutes up by seven.
 
NMU would eventually stretch their lead up to 15, but Fox would try to give her team one final push with a bucket in the paint.
 
Lane would bury her second three of the game, a new career-high, to cut the lead to 66-58 with a little over two minutes to go.
 
That last gasp wouldn't be enough, as the Golden Eagles fell, 74-64.
 
Miller led the way with 20 points on 9-21 shooting from the field, while pulling down four rebounds and dishing out three assists. Fox and Lane each finished with 10 points. Mikrot finished with nine, all on three-point makes.
 
The Golden Eagles shot 39.1 percent from the field and turned the ball over just 10 times.
 
Northern Michigan was 25-29 from the charity stripe, while Minnesota Crookston was 4-5 from the free throw line.
 
Minnesota Crookston is back in action on Saturday, as they host Michigan Tech. Tip-off with the Huskies is set for 1 P.M.