MINOT, N.D. - The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team commenced the 2024-25 NSIC slate with a 70-63 win at Minot State University Tuesday, November 26 at the Minot State Dome. Riley Jenkins (R-So., G/F, Galesburg, Ill.) scored a double-double of 15 points and 11 boards to lead the Golden Eagles.

Minnesota Crookston improved to 3-4 (1-0 NSIC) with Tuesday's win. Minot State dropped to 1-7 (0-1 NSIC). The Golden Eagles have won five of the last six games in the series.

Minnesota Crookston shot 26-of-63 for 41.3 percent from the field. The Golden Eagles shot 7-of-25 for 28.0 percent from beyond the arc, and went 11-of-15 for 73.3 percent from the stripe. Minnesota Crookston was outrebounded 39-38. They notched 10 offensive boards Tuesday. Jenkins shot 7-of-13 from the field. Emma Miller (Jr., G, Albertville, Minn.) finished with 26 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Miller is No. 8 all-time in scoring at Minnesota Crookston. She needs 42 points to surpass Brittani Wiese for seventh all-time.

Nicole Hernandez (R-Sr., F/C, Oak Creek, Wis.) chipped in eight points and 12 boards, notching her second-straight game with 10 or more rebounds. Hernandez, the nation's blocks leader, finished with two blocked shots. Willow Thiel (Fr., F, Perham, Minn.) chipped in seven points.

Minot State shot 24-of-61 for 39.3 percent from the field. The Beavers went 10-of-25 for 40.0 percent from beyond the arc, and 5-of-7 for 71.4 percent from the foul line. Minot State committed 19 turnovers Tuesday.

The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 5-2 advantage after a Miller trey. Minot State countered with a 13-0 run, as an Emma Mogen bucket gave the Beavers a 15-5 lead. Minnesota Crookston closed out the first quarter on a 4-0 run, as Miller found Hernandez for a pair to trim the deficit to 15-9.

A Lara Dobbins bucket opened the second quarter for Minot State, extending their lead to 17-9. The Golden Eagles cut the deficit to 19-14 on a Thiel free throw. Sydney Gustavvson put a stamp on a 4-0 run, to give Minot State a 23-14 lead. Hope Dudycha (R-So., G, Austin, Minn.) hit 1-of-2 from the line to pull within 23-18. The Beavers went into the locker room with a 34-29 lead following a pair of Natalie Mikrot (Jr., G, Willow River, Minn.) free throws for the Golden Eagles.

Dobbins drained a three to extend the Minot State lead to 40-33 with 7:37 left in the third stanza. The Golden Eagles countered with a 6-0 run as a Miller basket trimmed the deficit to 40-39 with 4:31 left in the quarter. Maya Aguilar sank a triple to put Minot State back up four on the next possession. Minnesota Crookston took the lead 44-43 on a Hernandez trey with 3:01 remaining in the frame. The Beavers took the lead back on a Dobbins jumper. The Golden Eagles came back with three-consecutive triples to widen the gap to 55-45 after a Jenkins trey. Jenkins closed out the third frame to go into the quarter break with a 57-45 advantage.

The Beavers sank a pair of treys to open the fourth quarter as they cut their deficit to 57-51 with 9:09 left in the game. Minot State got the Golden Eagle lead down to four after a Mogen basket. Minnesota Crookston came back with a 4-0 run, as a pair of Dudycha free throws gave the Golden Eagles a 63-55 lead with 4:44 remaining. Minnesota Crookston pushed the lead back out to 11 with a Miller triple with 2:38 left in the tilt. They hung on for a 70-63 win over the Beavers.

Minnesota Crookston will host Bemidji State University Friday, December 6 at 5:30 p.m., at Lysaker Gymnasium.