CROOKSTON, Minn. – Bren Fox (R-Sr., F/C, Norwood Young America, Minn.) hit the third trey of her senior season with two seconds remaining on the clock to send the University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team to a 63-60 victory over the University of Sioux Falls. Fox was crucial in Friday's win over the Cougars, with 17 points, 15 rebounds, and six blocked shots.

The Golden Eagles have won their last two games in thrilling fashion. Minnesota Crookston improved to 10-11 (9-6 NSIC) with Friday's win. The Golden Eagles have reached 10 or more wins for the first time since the 2018-19 season. Minnesota Crookston sits in fourth place in the NSIC North standings. They are one game behind the University of Mary, two games ahead of Northern State University, and three games in front of Minnesota State University Moorhead. They are playing for a spot in the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament. Sioux Falls dropped to 6-15 (3-12 NSIC) with the loss. Minnesota Crookston picked up their first win over the Cougars since February 6, 2015.

Minnesota Crookston had an overall team effort Friday, including Fox. Emma Miller (Fr., G, Albertville, Minn.) finished with 16 points, three rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Alex Page (So., F, Grand Forks, N.D.) added 14 points and five boards. Janie Tormanen (Fr., F, Menahga, Minn.) came off the bench for nine points.

The Golden Eagles went 24-of-61 for 39.3 percent. Minnesota Crookston was 6-of-20 for 30.0 percent from beyond the arc. They went 9-of-15 from 60.0 percent from the foul line. Minnesota Crookston was outrebounded 49-37, including allowing 19 offensive boards.

Fox needs just three rebounds to surpass Laurie Tyson for third all-time in rebounds at UMN Crookston, and five to most past Katrina (Moenkedick) Nordick for second. Fox has 693 career boards. She is 83 rebounds away from the school record set by Isieoma Odor.

Sioux Falls was led by Megan Fannin, who came off the bench for 14. Olivia Gamoke added 13. Dallie Hoskinson was crucial for the Cougars on the glass. She had 14 boards to go with eight points. Seven of her rebounds were of the offensive variety. The Cougars shot 31.9 percent from the field, and 23.1 percent from beyond the arc. They were at 66.7 percent from the foul line.

The two squads were tied 12-12 mid-way through the first quarter after a Gamoke jumper for USF. Minnesota Crookston countered with an 8-1 run to end the stanza to go into the quarter break ahead 20-13.

Minnesota Crookston struggled to get going early in the second quarter. The Cougars opened the frame on a 13-2 run, as a Brecli Honner basket gave USF a 26-22 lead with 3:55 left in the quarter. Minnesota Crookston took the lead back with a 5-0 run of their own, as a Tormanen old-fashioned three-point play put the Golden Eagles ahead 27-26. The Cougars closed the stanza on an 8-0 run ignited by eight points from Fannin. Sioux Falls went into the locker room with the 34-29 advantage.

USF jumped out to an early 38-29 advantage in the third quarter ignited by a trey from Madison Wuebben. Minnesota Crookston countered with a 9-2 run, as a pair of Fox free throws trimmed the deficit to 40-38 with 4:39 left in the quarter. Sioux Falls led 43-40 with 3:01 remaining after Riley Moreland hit 1-of-2 from the stripe. Minnesota Crookston came back with a 5-0 run lifted by four free throws from Page, as they went into the quarter stoppage with a 45-43 lead.

The two teams traded baskets and were tied at 47-47 with 7:05 remaining in the game. Minnesota Crookston brought a 6-0 run to the table, as a Miller triple put them ahead 53-47 with 5:21 left in the game. Sioux Falls countered with a 6-0 run of their own, as a Tayah Leenderts bucket knotted it up 53-53. Minnesota Crookston took the lead 55-53 with 47 seconds remaining with a Tormanen bucket. However, a pair of free throws from Leenderts tied the game up 55-55 with 14 seconds left in regulation. Minnesota Crookston was unable to get a great look at the end of regulation, as both teams went to the overtime knotted up 55-55.

Minnesota Crookston picked up a major shot early in the extra period when Taryn Frazer (Fr., G, Cass Lake, Minn.) found paydirt from the corner with a trey to give the Golden Eagles a 58-55 advantage. They pushed the lead to 60-55 as Nicole Hernandez (Jr., F/C, Oak Creek, Wis.) made a great pass to find Fox at the hoop for a pair. USF did not give in, as they came back with a 5-0 run, tying it up 60-60 on a Gamoke triple. Minnesota Crookston had the answer in the form of Fox, who took the Miller pass and drained the trey with two seconds left, followed by a celebratory fist pump to put the Golden Eagles ahead 63-60. USF had one last chance, as Fannin put up a three-point attempt but Fox denied the shot, for her sixth block of the game to seal the 63-60 win for the Golden Eagles.

Minnesota Crookston remains at home to host Southwest Minnesota State University Saturday, January 27 at 5:30 p.m., at Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium.