MARQUETTE, Mich. - The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team fell 85-69 to Northern Michigan University Friday, November 15 in Marquette, Mich. The Golden Eagles got the deficit down to three points in the third quarter, but the Wildcats outscored Minnesota Crookston 32-19 in the final 13:32 of the tilt.
The Golden Eagles dropped to 0-3 with Friday's loss in the Upper Peninsula. Northern Michigan improved to 3-0 with the victory.
Minnesota Crookston was propelled by Emma Miller (Jr., G, Albertville, Minn.), who scored 26 points on 10-of-24 from the field. Rayna Klejeski (So., F, Barnum, Minn.) finished with 13 points on 5-of-9 from the field. Taryn Frazer (Jr., G, Cass Lake, Minn.) came off the bench for nine points, while Willow Thiel (Fr., F, Perham, Minn.) added eight off the bench. Hope Dudycha (R-So., G, Austin, Minn.) added seven. Nicole Hernandez (R-Sr., F/C, Oak Creek, Wis.) paced Minnesota Crookston with eight boards, while Thiel finished with six.
The Golden Eagles shot 25-of-69 from the field for 36.2 percent. Minnesota Crookston went 8-of-30 for 26.7 percent from distance, and went 11-of-12 for 91.7 percent from the foul line. The Golden Eagles were outrebounded 49-30, including 12 offensive boards. They had 15 assists, to just nine turnovers in the afternoon.
The Wildcats shot 31-of-64 for 48.4 percent. They were on-fire from beyond the arc, hitting at a 56.5 percent clip with 13 treys. Northern Michigan went 10-of-15 for 66.7 percent from the stripe. They had 17 assists to 15 turnovers Friday. The Wildcats were propelled by 26 points from Jacy Weisbrod, including six triples. Sarah Newcomer notched 17 points, including four 3-pointers. Mackenzie Holwert came off the bench for 11 points, while Alyssa Nimz led the squad with 10 boards. C.J. Romero guided the offense with seven assists.
Northern Michigan got out quickly, as they took a 12-2 lead with 5:59 left in the first on a Holwert bucket. The Wildcats pushed their advantage to 25-10 following a pair of Romero free throws. They went into the quarter break with a 26-15 lead after Dudycha had drained a trey for Minnesota Crookston.
Northern Michigan widened the gap to 37-19 with a Weisbrod jumper with 7:32 left in the second stanza. They extended their lead to 43-22 with 4:20 remaining in the quarter following a bucket from Bemidji State University transfer Alyssa Hill. Minnesota Crookston trimmed the deficit to 15 at 49-34 following a Miller fastbreak bucket, and that would be the tally going into the locker room.
Minnesota Crookston got the deficit down to eight (51-43) as Frazer found Hernandez for a pair with 5:49 left in the third quarter. The basket would be part of an 8-0 run as the Golden Eagles pulled within 51-47 on an Olivia Walsh (So., F, Austin, Minn.) jumper. Minnesota Crookston would get the Wildcat lead down to three on a Frazer triple with 3:32 remaining. Northern Michigan closed out the third stanza on an 8-2 run as they went into the break with a 61-52 lead.
A Weisbrod jumper opened the fourth for the Wildcats to extend the advantage to 63-52. Frazer buried a three to trim the deficit to 63-55 with 8:16 left in the quarter. The Golden Eagles got the deficit to seven (67-60) following a Thiel basket. Northern Michigan responded with an 8-0 run to push the lead to 75-60. The Wildcats would hold on to win 85-69.
Minnesota Crookston continues their trip in the Upper Peninsula as they play Michigan Tech in Houghton, Mich., Saturday, November 16.