CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team had a late comeback fall short against the University of Sioux Falls in a 56-48 loss Friday, January 19. Janie Tormanen (So., F/C, Menahga, Minn.) led the Golden Eagles with a career-high 27 points on 10-of-19 from the field.

The Golden Eagles dropped to 9-8 (6-5 NSIC) with Friday's loss. They are tied for seventh in the NSIC standings. The Cougars improved to 7-9 (5-7 NSIC) with the victory. 

Tormanen was 7-of-10 from the line, and added seven rebounds in her career-high outing. Nicole Hernandez (R-Jr., F/C, Oak Creek, Wis.) added nine points and 10 rebounds. Hernandez has been dominant on the glass of late, averaging 11.0 rebounds per game in the last three tilts. Emma Miller (So., G, Albertville, Minn.) added five points.

The Golden Eagles were 17-of-52 for 32.7 percent from the field. They went 4-of-16 for 25.0 percent from beyond the arc, and 10-of-14 for 71.4 percent from the foul line. Minnesota Crookston had 20 turnovers, and they were outrebounded 45-38, including allowing 16 offensive boards for Sioux Falls.

The Cougars looked to 15 points from Brecli Honner, who also added seven boards. Ayla Brown chipped in nine points and 11 boards. Madison Wuebben chipped in nine points and six boards. Danielle Minsaas added nine points, while Kami Wadsworth finished with eight points and eight rebounds.

Sioux Falls went 20-of-68 from the field for 29.4 percent. They shot 9-of-27 for 33.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 7-of-8 for 87.5 percent from the foul line.

Wuebben opened the game with a trey to give the Cougars a 3-0 lead. Minnesota Crookston held a 7-5 advantage at the quarter break after a Hernandez three-pointer.

The Golden Eagles widened their lead to 9-5 on a Tormanen bucket to open the second stanza. Sioux Falls countered with a 10-0 run using a Wadsworth basket to push out to a 15-9 lead. The Cougars went into the locker room with a 27-20 advantage.

Minnesota Crookston trimmed the deficit to 27-22 with a Tormanen bucket. Sioux Falls responded with a 10-0 run, as a Minsaas basket extended the USF advantage to 37-22. The Golden Eagles were able to cut the deficit to 45-34 with a Tormanen basket going into the quarter break.

USF extended their lead to 50-38 with a Honner hoop with 8:03 left in the game. Minnesota Crookston responded with a 5-0 rally as a Tormanen hoop pulled the Golden Eagles within 50-43. The Golden Eagles continued to stick around, as they utilized a Miller three to pull within four with 29 seconds left. However, Sioux Falls was able to hold off the U of M Crookston to win 56-48.

Minnesota Crookston wraps up their home stand Saturday, January 20 at 3:30 p.m., against Southwest Minnesota State University.