ABERDEEN, S.D. - The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team had a strong offensive showing Saturday, November 9 but fell 93-79 to No. 12/15 Pittsburg State at Wachs Arena. The Golden Eagles were competing at the NSIC/MIAA Crossover in Aberdeen, S.D.

The Golden Eagles sit at 0-2 after a pair of losses in Aberdeen. Pittsburg State improved to 3-1 with Saturday's victory. The game was the first meeting between the two schools.

Minnesota Crookston scored 79 points Saturday, shooting 29-of-62 for 46.8 percent. The Golden Eagles hit 7-of-22 for 31.8 percent from beyond the arc, and went 14-of-19 for 73.7 percent from the foul line. Minnesota Crookston had five players score in double figures in Saturday's contest. Willow Thiel (Fr., F, Perham, Minn.) led the Golden Eagles off the bench with a career-high 14 points and six boards. Thiel was 5-of-8 from the field. Riley Jenkins (R-So., G/F, Galesburg, Ill.) finished with 13 points on 6-of-12 from the field. Emma Miller (Jr., G, Albertville, Minn.), Hope Dudycha (R-So., G, Austin, Minn.), and Taryn Frazer (Jr., G, Cass Lake, Minn.) all notched 11 points. Nicole Hernandez (R-Sr., F/C, Oak Creek, Wis.) chipped in six points and seven boards, while Kloe Wadd (So., F/C, Waseca, Minn.) had four points.

Pittsburg State had the 37-32 rebounding edge. The Gorillas hit an impressive 36-of-65 for a 55.4 percent clip. They were 11-of-22 for 50.0 percent from distance, and 10-of-17 for 58.8 percent from the foul line. 

The Gorillas were guided by 21 points from Macie Mays. She added six rebounds. Harper Schreiner chipped in 17 points, and nine boards, along with eight assists. Mays also had six helpers. Grace Pyle notched 17 points, while Karenna Gerber finished with 11.

Pittsburg State outscored Minnesota Crookston in the paint 42-34, and had 18 second-chance points.

The Gorillas opened the game on a 9-1 run, propelled by four points from Mays. Pittsburg State went into the quarter break despite a 6-0 run by Minnesota Crookston to end the first quarter lifted by four points from Jenkins.

Pittsburg State extended their lead to 2-0 (36-16) on an Alva Lozano Davila fastbreak hoop. The Golden Eagles would chip away at the lead to get it down to 11 with 2:21 remaining in the second quarter, following a Thiel jumper. The Gorillas went into the locker room with a 50-34 advantage.

Pittsburg State pushed back out to a 22-point advantage after a Pyle bucket with 5:35 remaining in the third quarter. Minnesota Crookston pulled within 16 (72-56) with a Miller trey with 1:01 left in the stanza. The Gorillas went into the quarter break up 75-56.

Pittsburg State widened the gap back to 22 on a Pyle trey early in the fourth frame. Minnesota Crookston chipped away at the lead, as they trimmed it to 14 points after a pair of Brynlea Mahlen (Fr., G, Fosston, Minn.) free throws in the final seconds. However, the Gorillas would hang on to win 93-79.

Minnesota Crookston heads to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to face Northern Michigan University Friday, November 15 at 2 p.m. C.T. in Marquette, Mich.