CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team ended 2022 with a 78-64 victory over the University of Mary at Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium. The Golden Eagles picked up the weekend sweep after defeating Minot State University Friday.

The Golden Eagles improved to 6-8 (5-3 NSIC) with Saturday's victory. UMN Crookston is in a tie for third place in the NSIC North with UMary after the victory. Minnesota Crookston has their most wins since the 2018-19 season, when they notched 10 victories. UMary drops to 6-5 (5-3 NSIC) with the loss at the hands of the Golden Eagles. The Golden Eagles snapped a two-game losing streak against the Marauders with Saturday's win. The two teams have historically played close tilts. The game had been decided by an average of 4.6 points in the previous seven meetings. Saturday's win is the biggest margin of victory by either team since a 72-54 victory for the Golden Eagles over the Marauders February 14, 2015 in Bismarck, N.D.

Minnesota Crookston was guided by a double-double from Bren Fox (R-Sr., F/C, Norwood Young America, Minn.) with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Fox led the Golden Eagles on the boards. She has had five-straight games with double-figure rebounds. She is averaging 12.8 rebounds in the last five contests. Fox has four double doubles this season. Fox surpassed Emily Gruber for fourth all-time in career rebounds. She needs 69 rebounds to move past Laurie Tyson for third all-time.

The Golden Eagles had a balanced offensive effort overall, as they had five players score in double figures. Emma Miller (Fr., G, Albertville, Minn.) notched 16 points on 4-of-15 from the field. Alex Page (So., F, Grand Forks, N.D.) finished with 13 points and nine rebounds. Taryn Frazer (Fr., G, Cass Lake, Minn.) logged 10 points. Erika Lane (So., G, Breezy Point, Minn.) came off the bench for 11 points.

Minnesota Crookston outrebounded the Marauders 48-32. The Golden Eagles had 10 offensive boards. The Golden Eagles shot 27-of-61 from the field for 44.3 percent. UMN Crookston went 9-of-25 from beyond the arc for 36.0 percent. Minnesota Crookston went 15-of-19 from the line for 78.9 percent.

UMary looked to 15 points from Megan Zander. Megan Voit chipped in 13 points, while Moriku Hakim came off the bench for 11 points. The Marauders were held to 34.4 percent from the field. The Golden Eagles continued to shut down three-point shooting, as they were limited to 19.2 percent. UMary went 17-of-25 from the line for 68.0 percent.

Minnesota Crookston took an early 10-6 advantage after back-to-back buckets from Miller. UMary overtook the lead 13-11 with a Zander basket with 3:40 left in the first quarter. Minnesota Crookston ended the quarter on a 9-2 run as a Lane jumper gave the Golden Eagles a 20-15 lead.
Minnesota Crookston opened the second stanza on a 10-1 run led by five-straight points from Page to make it 30-16. UMary was able to trim the deficit to nine (42-33) after a free throw from Ryleigh Wacha going into the locker room.

UMary trimmed the Golden Eagle lead to 49-43 with 3:37 remaining in the third quarter after Hakim hit a free throw. UMN Crookston closed out the third quarter with four points from Miller to go into the break with a 57-47 advantage.

UMN Crookston continued to build their momentum as they commenced the fourth frame with a 7-2 run as a Nicole Hernandez (Jr., F/C, Oak Creek, Wis.) three-pointer made it 64-49. UMary was able to make a push to diminish the lead to nine following a Wacha bucket with 5:41 remaining. The Golden Eagles were able to fend off the Marauders down the stretch as they picked up the 78-64 advantage.

Minnesota Crookston will open 2023 on the road as they face Winona State University Friday, January 6 at 5:30 p.m. in Winona, Minn., and Upper Iowa University Saturday, January 7 at 3:30 p.m. in Fayette, Iowa.