CROOKSTON, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State University team used a 27-8 second-quarter run to defeat the University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team 83-62 Friday, January 3 in Crookston.

The Golden Eagles dropped to 5-8 (3-4 NSIC) with Friday's loss. Minnesota Crookston is in a tie for ninth place in the NSIC standings. Southwest Minnesota State improved to 12-2 (6-2 NSIC) with the victory. The Mustangs have won five in a row in the series.

Minnesota Crookston hung with the Mustangs the other three quarters, as they were only outscored 56-54. The Golden Eagles were lifted by Hope Dudycha (R-So., G, Austin, Minn.), who tied her career high with 20 points on 8-of-15 from the field, and 3-of-8 from beyond the arc. Emma Miller (Jr., G, Albertville, Minn.) chipped in 18 points, and seven boards on 6-of-20 from the field. Nicole Hernandez (R-Sr., F/C, Oak Creek, Wis.), who is second in the nation in blocked shots, added three blocked shots to her total. Rayna Klejeski (So., F, Barnum, Minn.) came off the bench for seven points.

The Golden Eagles went 22-of-65 for 33.8 percent from the field. Minnesota Crookston was 7-of-27 for 25.9 percent from beyond the arc, and 11-of-14 for 78.6 percent from the stripe. Minnesota Crookston was outrebounded 43-31, but they led the Mustangs on the offensive glass with 14 offensive boards. Minnesota Crookston had 10 assists, to 14 turnovers.

The Mustangs looked to Peyton Blandin with 23 points, including five 3-pointers. Bri Stoltzmann finished with a double-double 20 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists. Audrey Swanson had 12 points, and eight boards, while Nicole Maenke came off the bench for 12.

Southwest Minnesota State shot 33-of-64 from the field for 51.6 percent, hitting 61 percent in the second, and fourth quarters. The Mustangs were 10-of-19 for 52.6 percent from beyond the arc, and 7-of-10 from the stripe.

Minnesota Crookston held an 8-7 lead with under six minutes left in the first after Miller drained a trey. The Golden Eagles led 16-14 following a Klejeski hoop with 1:12 remaining in the first. The two squads went into the quarter break knotted 18-18 after a Miller jumper.

The Mustangs opened the second stanza on an 8-0 run after Blandin sank a trey. Miller pulled the Golden Eagles within 26-21 with a triple with 8:12 left in the second quarter. Southwest Minnesota State responded with a 19-0 run, as Minnesota Crookston did not score for over eight minutes, finally cutting the deficit to 22 with a Dudycha bucket with 53 seconds remaining in the frame. The Mustangs went to the locker room with a 45-26 advantage.

The Golden Eagles trimmed the deficit to 17 after a pair of Riley Jenkins (R-So., G/F, Galesburg, Ill.) free throws to open the third quarter. The Mustangs countered and pushed the lead back out to 26 with a Swanson free throw with 5:43 left in the third stanza. Minnesota Crookston cut into the Mustang lead, trimming it to 18 points with a Hernandez basket going into the quarter break. 

Minnesota Crookston opened the fourth quarter on a 5-0 run, as a Miller trey cut the advantage to 65-52. Southwest Minnesota State extended the lead to 17 on a Blandin basket with 7:49 remaining. Minnesota Crookston cut the lead to 71-57 on a Halle Winjum (Fr., G, Crookston, Minn.) bucket. The Mustangs would fend off the Golden Eagles down the stretch, winning 83-62.

The University of Minnesota Crookston continue the weekend at home Saturday, January 4 at 3:30 p.m., versus the University of Sioux Falls.