WINONA, Minn. - Winona State University outscored the University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team 38-26 in the second half, as the Warriors defeated the Golden Eagles 70-62. The Golden Eagles led 36-32 at the half.
Minnesota Crookston ends their season with a 9-19 (6-16 NSIC) mark. Winona State improved to 10-17 (9-13 NSIC) with the win. The two teams split the season series. The Golden Eagles see their season come to a close, as they finished in a tie with Augustana University for 12th place. Augustana gets the No. 12 seed in the NSIC Tournament since they defeated the Golden Eagles twice (January 6 and February 16). Minnesota Crookston had hope to get in, but Minot State University's buzzer beater against the University of Sioux Falls ended those hopes. Minnesota Crookston would have received the No. 12 seed over Minot State since they won November 21.
Emma Miller (So., G, Albertville, Minn.) finished with 22 points and eight boards, on 9-of-15 from the field. Miller scored her 1,000th career point, becoming the 13th player since the Golden Eagles joined NCAA Division II in 1999 to score 1,000 points. Miller is the fastest player to ever score 1,000 points. She is the first Minnesota Crookston player to score 1,000 points since Isieoma Odor (2014-19). Miller has 1,006 career points. She needs eight points to move past Bri Zabel in 13th place for all-time scoring. Miller needs 55 points to move into the Top 10 all-time.
Nicole Hernandez (R-Jr., F/C, Oak Creek, Wis.) added 13 points on 5-of-7 from the field. Riley Jenkins (R-Fr., G/F, Galesburg, Ill.) chipped in 12 points and five boards. Hope Dudycha (R-Fr., G, Austin, Minn.) notched 10 points.
The Golden Eagles went 24-of-57 for 42.1 percent. Minnesota Crookston was 9-of-20 for 45.0 percent from beyond the arc, and 5-of-6 for 83.3 percent from the charity stripe.The Warriors outrebounded the Golden Eagles 39-32.
Winona State was guided by 17 points from Alex Dornfeld. Mattie Schimenz finished with 13 points. Former Minnesota Crookston player Emma Carpenter added 10 points. Ava Sergio notched 10 points, and nine boards.
The Warriors shot 25-of-64 from the field for 39.1 percent. Winona State was 10-of-30 for 33.3 percent from distance, and 10-of-11 for 90.9 percent from the stripe.
Minnesota Crookston raced out to a 14-4 lead with a Jenkins trey. A Kaitlyn Schrimpf three-pointer brought the Warriors within 14-7. Minnesota Crookston ended the first quarter with a Miller bucket off a Jenkins helper, to go into the quarter break with a 21-11 lead.
Hope Dudycha scored the first five points in the second stanza, giving the Golden Eagles a 26-11 advantage. Minnesota Crookston extended their advantage to 31-13 with a Miller trey. The Golden Eagles held a 17-point advantage after a Hernandez trey with 3:40 remaining in the second quarter. Winona State closed the second frame on a 13-0 run, as a Hailey Markworth basket cut the deficit to 36-32 going into the locker room.
The Warriors opened the third quarter with a 5-0 run, as a Carpenter triple gave Winona State a 37-36 lead. The Golden Eagles countered with a 4-0 run, as a Tormanen free throw gave Minnesota Crookston a 40-37 advantage. A Dornfeld trey knotted the game 40-40 with 7:28 remaining in the third. The Golden Eagles responded with a 4-0 run, using a Jenkins bucket to take a 44-40 lead. A 5-0 run led by a Carpenter triple gave the Warriors the lead back 45-44 with 6:10 remaining in the quarter. Minnesota Crookston came back with an 8-0 run, using a Hope Dudycha trey to go ahead 52-45. A Markworth bucket trimmed the Golden Eagle lead to 54-50 heading into the final stanza.
The Warriors took the lead back early in the fourth, as a Sergio old-fashioned three-point play put Winona State up 58-56. Minnesota Crookston knotted the game 58-58 on a Tormanen hoop with 7:37 remaining. An Olivia Gamoke triple gave Winona State a 61-58 lead. Minnesota Crookston took the lead 62-61 with a Tormanen bucket with 4:15 left. Winona State closed the game on a 9-0 run, giving the Warriors a 70-62 win.
The game was the final one in the maroon and gold for Tormanen and Lily Orazem (G, Onamia, Minn.). Both players were strong student-athletes on and off the court for the Golden Eagles. Minnesota Crookston has a strong core returning, as Natalie Moynihan will enter her second season during the 2024-25 season.
