MOORHEAD, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team made it three-in-a-row as they fended off a late charge by Minnesota State University Moorhead to win 68-60 at Nemzek Fieldhouse in Moorhead, Minn. The victory is the first for the Golden Eagles in Nemzek Fieldhouse since December 8, 2017.

The Golden Eagles improved to 4-17 (3-12 NSIC) with Sunday's victory over the Dragons. MSU Moorhead dropped to 7-13 (6-10 NSIC) with the loss.

MSU Moorhead outscored the Golden Eagles 27-12 in the third quarter, and trailed by just two with 7:08 remaining, but UMN Crookston held off the charge to go home victorious.

Minnesota Crookston was guided by Bren Fox (R-Jr., F/C, Norwood Young America, Minn.) with 16 points and seven boards. Mary Burke (Sr., F, Virginia, Minn.) added 15 points. Kylie Post (Sr., G, Corcoran, Minn.) finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Emma Carpenter (Jr., G, Eagan, Minn.) added 10 points.

The Golden Eagles were 25-of-52 from the field for 48.1 percent. Minnesota Crookston shot 5-of-18 from beyond the arc for 27.8 percent. They went 13-of-18 for 72.2 percent from the foul line. The Golden Eagles edged the Dragons on the boards 37-36.

MSU Moorhead was led by 16 points from Peyton Boom. Natalie Jens and Nicole Herbranson each chipped in eight points. Natalie Steichen had six points and nine rebounds.

The Dragons shot 24-of-63 from the field for 38.1 percent. MSU Moorhead was 7-of-24 for 29.2 percent from beyond the arc. The Dragons were just 5-of-11 from the foul line for 45.5 percent.

The two teams would trade baskets early as they would be knotted up 6-6 after a Jens lay-in for the Dragons. The Golden Eagles countered with a Burke trey and a Post jumper to take the 11-6 advantage. Minnesota Crookston built their advantage to 20-10 on a Carpenter trey with 40 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

The Golden Eagles pushed their advantage out to 23-10 on a Burke three-pointer as Minnesota Crookston opened the second stanza. UMN Crookston extended their lead to 27-12 with a Post jumper in the paint with just eight minutes left in the second quarter. Minnesota Crookston widened the gap to 36-17 as Abi Fraaza (Fr., F, Birnamwood, Wis.) hit 3-of-4 from the line. A Fraaza old-fashioned three-point play pushed the lead to 39-19 with 1:33 remaining in the second frame. Bren Fox drained a triple with a second remaining in the quarter to give the Golden Eagles a 41-19 lead going into the locker room.

Minnesota Crookston pushed their lead to 24 (45-21) early in the third quarter on Burke basket. The Dragons were able to go on a 10-2 run as Mariah McKeever nailed a jumper to pull within 47-31 with 4:45 left in the quarter. Herbanson and Boom continued the run for MSU Moorhead with a pair of triples, as the Dragons closed to within 47-37. The Dragons extended their run to 19-2 as Herbranson sank another three-pointer to bring MSU Moorhead within 47-40 with 3:03 left in the stanza. Minnesota Crookston halted the scoring drought for the Golden Eagles with a Fox jumper to extend the advantage out to 49-40. The Dragons came back and pulled within 49-44 on an Emma Thuringer jumper. A Fox put-back pushed the Golden Eagle lead back out to 53-44 late in the third stanza. The Dragons were able to close within 53-46 on a Natalie Steichen last-second lay-in heading into the quarter break.

The Dragons pulled within five (53-48) following a bucket from Boom early in the fourth quarter. MSU Moorhead was able to pull within two (53-51) following a Shyanne Loiland triple with 7:08 remaining in the game. Post got to the hoop for a pair to push the Golden Eagle lead back out to 55-51. Defensively, Carpenter got a huge steal leading to Post finding Fraaza in the post for two, as Minnesota Crookston pushed their lead to 57-51. After another defensive stop, Fox drained a long jumper as the Golden Eagles took the lead out to 59-51 with just over five minutes remaining. MSU Moorhead made another charge as Boom scored on an old-fashioned three-point play to cut the deficit to 59-56 with just under three minutes remaining. Carpenter responded by sinking a pair at the foul line to widen the gap to 61-56 with 2:24 left in the game. Post then got a crucial steal leading to another pair of free throws for Carpenter, extending the advantage to 63-56 with 1:03 left in the game. Minnesota Crookston would pick up the 68-60 win.

The Golden Eagles will wrap up the season next week. UMN Crookston will take on No. 12/18 St. Cloud State Thursday, February 17 and No. 18 Minnesota Duluth Saturday, February 19.