CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team remained undefeated at home with a 77-69 win over Winona State University. The Golden Eagles outscored the Warriors 27-16 in the fourth quarter to upend the Warriors.

Minnesota Crookston improved to 9-6 (6-3 NSIC) with Friday's victory. The Golden Eagles improved to 6-0 at Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium. Minnesota Crookston continues their best start since the 2018-19 season, and their best conference mark to open the season since the 2015-16 season. The Golden Eagles are in a tie for fifth place in the NSIC standings.

Janie Tormanen (So., F/C, Menahga, Minn.) tallied 20 points and seven boards. Nicole Hernandez (R-Jr., F/C, Oak Creek, Wis.) played one of her best games of the season with a double-double of 11 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists. Emma Miller (So.,G, Albertville, Minn.) finished with 21 points. Hope Dudycha (R-Fr., G, Austin, Minn.) added 16 points for the Golden Eagles. Riley Jenkins (R-Fr., G/F, Galesburg, Ill.) came off the bench for six points and five boards.

The Golden Eagles shot 25-of-54 from the field for 46.3 percent. They were 9-of-20 for 45.0 percent from beyond the arc, and 18-of-29 for 62.1 percent from the foul line. Minnesota Crookston was an impressive 7-of-12 for 58.3 percent in the fourth quarter.

A key storyline in Friday's game was the return of Emma Carpenter to Lysaker Gymnasium. Carpenter played three seasons for the Golden Eagles before transferring to Winona State prior to the 2022-23 season. Carpenter finished with 15 points and four assists. Olivia Gamoke added 10 points. Alex Dornfeld had nine points and nine rebounds, while Hailey Markworth finished with 10 points.

The Warriors went 28-of-72 for 38.9 percent. Winona State went 8-of-35 for 22.9 percent from distance, and were 5-of-11 for 45.5 percent from the foul line. Winona State won the rebounding edge 43-38, including 13 offensive rebounds. The Warriors had 16 assists to 12 turnovers, while Minnesota Crookston had 13 assists to 12 turnovers.

Winona State jumped out to a 7-2 advantage following a Carpenter trey. The Golden Eagles responded with a 6-4 run to pull within 11-8 on a Tormanen basket. Markworth hit a jumper to push the Warrior advantage to 13-8. However, Minnesota Crookston responded and tied the game when Tormanen found Hernandez for a bucket to make it 14-14. The Golden Eagles rode the momentum to a 20-16 lead on a Miller jumper. The Warriors countered with back-to-back treys from Carpenter, and Kaitlyn Schrimpf to go ahead 22-20. Minnesota Crookston ended the first quarter on a 5-0 run to go into the quarter break ahead 25-22. 

Miller opened the second quarter with back-to-back buckets to push Minnesota Crookston's lead to 30-22. The Warriors countered later in the stanza with an 8-0 run as they tied the game 33-33 on a Markworth basket. Hope Dudycha hit a pair of free throws to give the Golden Eagles a 35-33 lead. Winona State closed out the first frame with an Ava Sergio bucket to tie the game 35-35. 

The two teams traded baskets early in the third quarter until the Warriors were able to push out to a 47-42 lead on a Markworth jumper with five minutes remaining in the frame. Minnesota Crookston used a basket from Hernandez to pull with three. However, Viveca Bretton responded with a bucket to extend the lead to 49-44. The Warriors pushed the lead to six (53-47) on a Bretton bucket with 54 seconds remaining. However, Jenkins closed out the stanza with a three-pointer to bring the score within three (53-50) going into the final quarter.

Minnesota Crookston knotted the game 53-53 on a Tormanen bucket. Tormanen was able to stave off foul trouble in the fourth quarter despite playing the entire frame with four fouls. Winona State took the lead back (55-53) on a Vanessa Alexander bucket. The score sat at 58-57 after a Markworth jumper. However, Minnesota Crookston came up with the counter punch as they went on a 8-0 run guided by six points from Tormanen. Winona State didn't go away as they pulled within two (66-64) on a Bretton triple with 1:55 remaining. Minnesota Crookston answered with a Miller trey, as they helped close out the game and earn the 77-69 win.

Minnesota Crookston is set for a tilt with Minnesota State University Saturday, January 13 at Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium.