DULUTH, Minn. - Myra Moorjani of the University of Minnesota Duluth sank a three-pointer with 15 seconds remaining to edge the University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team 66-64 Saturday, January 18 at Romano Gymnasium in Duluth. The Golden Eagles led by six with over three minutes remaining, but UMD closed the game on a 8-0 run to pick up the victory.

Minnesota Crookston dropped to 6-12 (4-8 NSIC) with Saturday's narrow loss at Duluth. The Bulldogs improved to 7-10 (5-7 NSIC) with the win. Minnesota Duluth has won the last 11 games in the series.The Golden Eagles are currently tied for 10th in the conference standings. 

The Golden Eagles were guided by Emma Miller (Jr., G, Albertville, Minn.), with 21 points on 8-of-19 from the field. Miller is sixth all-time in scoring at Minnesota Crookston with 1,391 points. She needs 69 points to surpass Alexa Thielman for fifth all-time. Hope Dudycha (R-So., G, Austin, Minn.) chipped in nine points. Riley Jenkins (R-So., G/F, Galesburg, Ill.) had eight points, and eight boards. Nicole Hernandez (R-Sr., F/C, Oak Creek, Wis.) chipped in seven points, and seven boards. Willow Thiel (Fr., F, Perham, Minn.) came off the bench for 11 points.

Minnesota Crookston went 25-of-60 from the field for 41.7 percent. The Golden Eagles were 4-of-17 for 23.5 percent from beyond the arc, and 10-of-14 for 71.4 percent from the stripe. Minnesota Crookston had 13 turnovers. They were edged 39-35 on the glass by the Bulldogs.

UMD were lifted by a double-double of 22 points, and 10 boards from Johanna Miller. Moorjani notched 15 points. Lexi Karge finished with 11 points, and eight rebounds. Vanessa Bickford notched nine points for UMD.

Minnesota Duluth shot 26-of-60 from the field for 43.3 percent. They were 5-of-18 for 27.8 percent from beyond the arc, and 9-of-16 from the stripe. 

The Bulldogs finished the first quarter on a 4-0 run, as Johanna Miller layed it in to give UMD a 16-12 lead going into the quarter break. 

A basket from Maria Counts extended the Minnesota Duluth advantage to 18-12 early in the second stanza. They were able to widen the gap to 22-14 after a Karge bucket. Minnesota Crookston countered with a 6-0 run, as a Dudycha jumper closed the gap to 22-20. The Bulldogs went into the locker room with a five-point advantage.

UMD extended their advantage to 36-29 after an old-fashioned three-point play from Karge early in the third. The Golden Eagles countered with a 10-2 rally, as a Jenkins trey made it 39-38. Minnesota Crookston took a four-point lead with 5:07 left in the frame following a Rayna Klejeski (So., F, Barnum, Minn.) bucket. A pair of free throws from Johanna Miller knotted the game 44-44. The Golden Eagles responded and took a 50-47 lead after a pair of Emma Miller free throws. A lay-in from Johanna Miller tied the game 50-50 going into the quarter intermission.

A fast-break basket from Emma Miller widened the gap to 56-52 with 5:42 left in the tilt. The Golden Eagles extended their lead to 62-55 with an Emma Miller trey with 4:11 remaining. They continued to hold a six-point lead with 3:06 remaining. Minnesota Crookston was unable to score down the stretch, as Minnesota Duluth closed the game on an 8-0 run guided by five points from Counts, and a trey from Moorjani to pick up the victory.

Minnesota Crookston returns home Friday, January 24 to host Wayne State College.