CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team outscored St. Cloud State University 41-40 in the second half, but the Huskies used a 16-point advantage at half-time to outlast the Golden Eagles.

Minnesota Crookston dropped to 9-13 (6-10 NSIC). They are now 6-4 at Lysaker Gymnasium this season. St. Cloud State improved to 12-7 (9-6 NSIC) with Thursday's win.

The Golden Eagles were led by 19 points from Emma Miller (So., G, Albertville, Minn.) on 6-of-19 from the field. Miller surpassed 900 points in her career during Thursday's game and now needs just 90 points to become the 13th member of the 1,000 points club at U of M Crookston. 

Ainsley McLain (Fr., G, Grafton, N.D.) played her best game of her young career, as she tallied 13 points on 5-of-8 from the field. McLain played the fifth game of her career after missing the start of the season due to injury. Riley Jenkins (Fr., G/F, Galesburg, Ill.) chipped in nine points, seven rebounds, and six assists. She tied her career high for rebounds, and set her career mark for assists. Olivia Walsh (Fr., G/F, Austin, Minn.) added eight points.

The Golden Eagles shot 21-of-56 from the field for 37.5 percent. They went 9-of-27 for 33.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 13-of-20 from the stripe for 65.0 percent. Minnesota Crookston had 13 assists to 12 turnovers. They were outrebounded 49-35, including 20 offensive boards for the Huskies. St. Cloud State had 16 second-chance points. 

The Huskies were led by 20 points from Jada Eggebrecht. Ashley Sawicki added 14 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists. Dru Henning finished with 13 points and five boards. Morgan Draheim chipped in 13 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Jasmine Litt added eight points and five helpers off the bench.

St. Cloud State went 32-of-77 for 41.6 percent from the field. They were 14-of-32 for 43.8 percent from beyond the arc, and 1-of-3 for 33.3 percent from the foul line.

Minnesota Crookston took an early 6-2 advantage following a Miller three-pointer. The Huskies countered with a 5-0 run to take the lead 7-6 with a Henning trey. Minnesota Crookston responded with a McLain basket, before a Sawicki hoop gave the Huskies a 9-8 lead going into the quarter break.

Minnesota Crookston took a 13-11 lead on a McLain triple with 9:01 left in the second stanza. St. Cloud State fired off a 10-2 run, as a Makenna Vanzant trey put the Huskies ahead 21-15 with 6:16 left in the frame. The Huskies finished the second quarter outsourcing the Golden Eagles 18-8 to go into the locker room with a 39-23 lead.

Minnesota Crookston trimmed the deficit to 43-31 with 6:56 left in the third quarter following a pair of Jenkins free throws. St. Cloud State countered with an Eggebrecht bucket to go ahead 45-31. The Huskies would get their lead back out to 15 with 4:49 remaining on a Henning triple. The Golden Eagles had an answer, as they took the momentum with a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 48-40 on a Miller hoop with 2:59 left in the third frame. The Huskies countered in a major way as they used a 10-0 run in 90 seconds to take a 58-40 lead following an Eggebrecht trey. They extended the lead to 21 on a Draheim triple. Minnesota Crookston trimmed the deficit to 61-41 going into the quarter break.

Minnesota Crookston used a 19-9 run to open the final quarter to cut the lead for the Huskies to 70-60 with 3:40 remaining in the game. The Huskies countered with a three from Draheim, and a bucket from Sawicki to go ahead 75-60. Minnesota Crookston ultimately lost by 15 (79-64)

The Golden Eagles will return to action Thursday, February 8 at home against Bemidji State University at 5:30 p.m.