SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team ran into offensive struggles Saturday, January 6 as they fell 67-46 to Augustana University at the Elmen Center. The Golden Eagles were held under 46 points for the first time since December 4, 2021. It is also just their second loss this season when they held a team to 70 points or less.

Minnesota Crookston dropped to 8-6 (5-3 NSIC) with Saturday's loss. They continue to be on their best start since the 2018-19 season, and their best conference showing to open the season since the 2015-16 season. The Golden Eagles split the weekend, as they defeated Wayne State College Friday. Augustana improved to 3-10 (2-7 NSIC) with the victory. The Vikings have won six straight games in the series. Minnesota Crookston has not won on Augie's home court since December 17, 2011.

The Golden Eagles shot 15-of-59 from the field for 25.4 percent. They were 5-of-13 for 38.5 percent from beyond the arc. Minnesota Crookston went 11-of-14 for 78.6 percent from the stripe.

Minnesota Crookston was guided by Emma Miller (So., G, Albertville, Minn.) with 16 points and six boards. Rayna Klejeski (Fr., F, Barnum, Minn.) came off the bench for nine points and six boards. Hope Dudycha (R-Fr., G, Austin, Minn.) added eight points. Janie Tormanen (So., F/C, Menahga, Minn.) had six points and five boards.

Augustana finished the game 27-of-77 from the field for 35.1 percent. They were limited to just 6-of-29 for 20.7 percent from distance, and went 7-of-10 for 70.0 percent from the foul line.

Jennifer Aadland paced Augie with 16 points. Aby Phipps added a double-double of 11 points and 11 boards. Michaela Jewett finished with 16 points and eight boards.

Augie controlled the glass 51-40, including 19 offensive boards. The Golden Eagles had seven assists to 14 turnovers. The Vikings finished with 15 assists to six turnovers.

The Vikings opened the scoring with an Aadland basket over 1:30 into the contest Saturday to make it 2-0. Minnesota Crookston got on the scoreboard with a Tormanen basket to cut the deficit to 4-2 with 7:30 left in the first quarter. Augustana extended their lead to 8-2 on a Phiips jumper. A pair of Phipps free throws extended the Viking lead to 10-2 with 2:55 remaining in the stanza. Minnesota Crookston halted the run with a Hernandez free throw to cut the deficit to 10-3. The Golden Eagles trimmed the deficit to 10-5 as Hope Dudycha found Klejeski in the post for a pair. Jewett countered with a trey to extend the Viking advantage to 13-5. A Payton Hardy basket pushed the Augie advantage to 15-5. Hope Dudycha came back with a triple to bring the U of M Crookston with 15-8. However, Hardy had a put-back at the last second to put Augustana ahead 17-8 going into the break. 

A Lauren Sees opened the scoring in the second quarter, giving Augie a 19-8 lead. Sees scored again to extend their second quarter run to 6-0 and push the lead to 23-8. Minnesota Crookston stopped the run with a Hernandez basket to cut the deficit to 23-10. Miller scored a pair of free throws and a transition bucket to pull the U of M Crookston within 23-14 with under five minutes left in the frame. After a defensive stop, Jenkins knocked down a trey to cut the deficit 23-17 and extend the Golden Eagle rally to 7-0. Jewett halted the run with a put-back hoop to widen the gap to 25-17. The Vikings widened the gap to 28-17 as C.J. Adamson found Phipps at the bucket for a pair. Augustana pushed their advantage to 31-17 with an Aadland old=fashioned three-point play. 

The Golden Eagles scored first in the third quarter as Klejeski got to the line for a pair where she went 1-of-2 to cut the Viking lead to 31-18. Klejeski connected on a bucket, and the Golden Eagles got an extra possession off a free throw miss which turned into a Miller floater as Minnesota Crookston trimmed the Augie lead to 31-22. Katie Leisen responded for Augustana with a three-pointer for the Vikings first bucket in the third quarter. The shot extended their lead to 34-22. Minnesota Crookston countered with a Hernandez triple to pull within 34-25. The Golden Eagles were able to continue to cut into the deficit as Miller rounded out an old-fashioned three-point play to make it 36-30 with 5:55 left in the third period. Augustana stopped the run with a Kenzie Rensch trey to push their lead to 39-30. Phipps scored to extend the lead to 41-30 with 2:25 remaining. Miller hit a pair of free throws, followed by an Augie turnover which turned into a pair of Tormanen free throws to cut the Viking lead to 41-34 with 1:02 remaining in the quarter. Aadland hit a jumper late in the stanza to extend the Augie lead to 43-34 going into the quarter break. 

Jewett opened the final stanza with a triple to widen the gap to 46-34. Adamson pushed the Viking lead to 50-34 with just over eight minutes left in the game. Minnesota Crookston scored their first basket of the final quarter on a Hope Dudycha three-pointer to pull within 50-37. Augie fired back with a Jewett old-fashioned three-point play to extend the Augie lead to 53-37. Augustana picked up the 67-46 win over the Golden Eagles. 

Minnesota Crookston returns home to host Winona State University Friday, January 12 at 7:30 p.m., in Crookston, Minn.