WINONA, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team edged Winona State University 80-79 Friday, January 10 at McCown Gymnasium in WInona, Minn. The Golden Eagles held off a Warrior surge in the fourth quarter to pick up the road win.

Minnesota Crookston improved to 6-9 (4-5 NSIC) with Friday's victory. The Golden Eagles have been titans of the road this season, posting a 5-3 mark at opposing sites. Winona State dropped to 7-9 (3-7 NSIC). The Golden Eagles are 3-1 in their last four meetings with the Warriors. They are 2-1 in their last three games in the shadows of Sugar Loaf Bluff in Winona. The U of M Crookston sits in a three-way tie for eighth-place in the NSIC standings following Friday's win. 

Hope Dudycha (R-So., G, Austin, Minn.) has been playing impressive basketball in recent games. The Golden Eagle guard led the squad with 21 points on 7-of-12 from the field, and 5-of-8 from beyond the arc. Her five triples guided Minnesota Crookston, who finished with 15 treys. The 15 triples are the most for the Golden Eagles since hitting a school-record 19 three-pointers February 25, 2022 against Minot State University. Dudycha is averaging 17.0 points per game in the last three contests. She is an impressive 10-of-23 for 43.5 percent in the last three tilts.

Emma Miller (Jr., G, Albertville, Minn.) added 20 points on 8-of-18 from the field, and 4-of-10 from beyond the arc. Miller has 1,329 career points. She ranks sixth all-time in scoring in Minnesota Crookston history, and needs 131 points to surpass Alexa Thielman for fifth all-time. Miller added four assists.

Riley Jenkins (R-So., G/F, Galesburg, Ill.) chipped in 18 points on 7-of-13 from the field, and 4-of-9 from beyond the arc. Nicole Hernandez (R-Sr., F/C, Oak Creek, Wis.) had a near double-double with nine points, and 11 boards. Willow Thiel (Fr., F, Perham, Minn.) came off the bench for four points, and four assists.

Minnesota Crookston went 30-of-66 for 45.5 percent from the field. The Golden Eagles were 15-of-35 for 42.9 percent from distance, and 5-of-6 from 83.3 percent from the stripe. Minnesota Crookston outrebounded the Warriors 35-33, including nine offensive boards. They assisted on 15 baskets, and had just 10 turnovers.

Winona State was led by 22 points from Vivica Bretton on 10-of-12 from the field. Olivia Gamoke added 20 points, while Sadie Jarmolowicz had 10 points, and nine boards. The Warriors went 32-of-64 for 50.0 percent from the field. They were 9-of-21 for 42.9 percent from beyond the arc, and 6-of-10 from the foul line. They turned the ball over 10 times. 

Minnesota Crookston took an early 9-4 advantage after an old-fashioned three-point play from Hernandez with 7:03 remaining in the first quarter. Gamoke closed the shortfall to 9-7 with a trey. Minnesota Crookston responded, building their lead back out to 15-8 as Miller sank a triple. A Britton basket ended a 6-0 run for the Warriors, as they pulled within 15-14 with four minutes left in the first. Natalie Mikrot (Jr., G, WIllow River, Minn.) drilled a trey to widen the gap to 23-16 with 2:07 left in the first frame. The Golden Eagles went into the quarter intermission with a 25-20 advantage. 

A Thiel basket opened the second stanza to push the Golden Eagle lead to 27-20. The Warriors responded with a 7-0 run, as a Gamoke three-pointer knotted the game 27-27. The two schools traded threes on three-straight possessions with Minnesota Crookston leading 33-30 with 5:39 left in the second quarter. Winona State countered to take the advantage 38-33 on a Jarmolowicz bucket. The Warriors went into the locker room with a 46-38 lead.

A Bretton basket gave Winona State a 48-41 lead early in the third frame. Minnesota Crookston closed within two points on a Dudycha triple with 7:24 left in the third stanza. A pair of Gamoke free throws extended the lead to 50-46. Five-consecutive points pushed the Golden Eagles ahead 51-50. A Paige Peaslee hoop put WInona State back ahead 52-51. Minnesota Crookston responded with a 9-0 run propelled by six points from Jenkins, making it 60-52. The Golden Eagles went into the quarter break ahead 62-55.

Winona State opened the fourth with an old-fashioned three-point play from Mattie Schimenz to pull within 62-58. A Miller trey spurred a 5-0 run, putting Minnesota Crookston ahead 67-58. Winona State countered with a 9-0 run, using a Jarmolowicz triple to tie the game 67-67 with 5:55 remaining in the tilt. Minnesota Crookston fought back with an 8-2 run, utilizing a Miller triple to push ahead 75-69. The Golden Eagles led 78-73 after a Hernandez free throw with 21 seconds remaining in the game. Gamoke pulled the Warriors within two with a triple with 16 seconds left in the meeting. A pair of Dudycha free throws extended the lead to 80-76 with four seconds remaining. Gamoke sank a trey as time expired, but it wouldn't be enough as Minnesota Crookston won 80-79.

The U of M Crookston remains on the road to face No. 8/11 Minnesota State University Saturday, January 11 at 3:30 p.m., in Mankato, Minn.