HOUGHTON, Mich. - The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team had an offensive explosion Saturday afternoon, as they hit 10 three-pointers in a 90-68 win over Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Mich. The Golden Eagles had three score in double figures in the victory in the Upper Peninsula.
Minnesota Crookston improved to 1-3 with Saturday's win, while Michigan Tech dropped to 2-2 with the loss.
The Golden Eagles were lifted by Emma Miller (Jr., G, Albertville, Minn.), who broke into the Top 10 all-time in scoring Saturday. Miller has 1,091 points in her career. She now ranks ninth all-time, surpassing Cathy Behr, and Stephanie Mayclin. Miller needs 16 points to move past Micaela Noga in eighth all-time. Miller had 31 points on 11-of-24 from the field, and 4-of-13 from the field. Miller averaged 28.5 points this weekend.
Willow Thiel (Fr., F, Perham, Minn.) had a breakout performance as a freshman with a double-double of 21 points and 10 boards on 7-of-13 from the field. Taryn Frazer (Jr., G, Cass Lake, Minn.) continued to be a spark plug off the bench with 18 points on 6-of-10 from deep. Riley Jenkins (R-So., G/F, Galesburg, Ill.) chipped in 10 points, and eight boards. Nicole Hernandez (R-Sr., F/C, Oak Creek, Wis.) finished with six points, and seven boards.
The Golden Eagles went 31-of-65 for 47.7 percent from the field. They were 10-of-30 from deep for 33.3 percent, with six threes from Frazer. Minnesota Crookston went 18-of-20 for 90.0 percent from the foul line.
Michigan Tech had five score in double figures. Kendall Standfest paced the Huskies with 17 points, and seven boards. Isabella Lenz added 12 points, as did Ella Mason off the bench. Dani Nuest chipped in 10 points, and six assists. Alyssa Wypych finished with 10 points, and six boards. Former Minnesota Crookston player Janie Tormanen had three points, and 10 boards. Tormanen transferred to Michigan Tech as a graduate student, after graduating from Minnesota Crookston.
The Huskies went 24-of-67 for 35.8 percent. They were 7-of-20 for 35.0 percent from distance, and 13-of-17 for 76.5 percent from the foul line.
The Golden Eagles outrebounded Michigan Tech 42-39, including 11 offensive boards. Minnesota Crookston had 17 assists, to just eight turnovers. Michigan Tech had 12 assists, to 12 turnovers.
Michigan Tech took an early 7-3 lead following a Wypych trey. The Golden Eagles pulled within 10-7 on a Thiel bucket with 6:18 remaining in the first quarter. The Huskies responded with a 4-0 run to take a 14-7 advantage. Michigan Tech widened the gap to 22-9 after a Mason triple. The Golden Eagles countered with a 7-2 run to pull within 24-16 going into the quarter break.
Minnesota Crookston got the deficit down to 24-20 after a pair of Jenkins free throws. A Lenz old-fashioned three-point play pushed the Michigan Tech lead to seven. The Huskies continued to hold a seven-point lead following a Standfast triple with 7:09 left in the stanza. The Golden Eagles responded with a 9-0 run guided by five points from Miller to give Minnesota Crookston a 36-34 lead with 4:14 left in the frame. Wypych hit a triple to give the Huskies a lead back 37-36. The Golden Eagles used an 8-0 run guided by back-to-back treys from Frazer to give Minnesota Crookston a 44-37 lead. The Golden Eagles went into the locker room with the 44-39 advantage.
A Nuest trey opened the third stanza to bring Michigan Tech within 44-42. Minnesota Crookston came back with an 8-0 run, as a Miller bucket made it 51-42. The Golden Eagles extended their lead to 15 on a Thiel bucket. Minnesota Crookston went into the quarter break with the 71-56 lead.
Frazer commenced the fourth quarter with a trey to make it 74-56. The Golden Eagles extended their lead to 24 on a pair of Thiel free throws. Their biggest lead came at 26 with a Miller bucket. Minnesota Crookston won the game 90-68.
The victory is Minnesota Crookston's first-ever win in seven games against Michigan Tech. The Golden Eagles remain on the road to face Black Hills State University Thursday, November 21 at 6 p.m. C.T.
