KEARNEY, Neb. - The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team allowed a fourth quarter run by the University of Nebraska Kearney Friday, November 14 as they fell 73-62 in their season opener. The Golden Eagles were knotted 49-49 at the end of the third quarter with the Lopers, but Nebraska Kearney used a 14-1 run early in the fourth stanza to earn the victory.
Minnesota Crookston opened the season with an 0-1 mark, while Nebraska Kearney improved to 1-0. The Golden Eagles have played the Lopers in November seven times in the last eight seasons. Nebraska Kearney is 6-1 all-time, winning the last six.
The Golden Eagles shot 23-of-57 for 40.4 percent from the field, and 7-of-21 for 33.3 percent from beyond the arc. They were 9-of-14 from the stripe for 64.3 percent. They finished with 12 assists to 20 turnovers. Minnesota Crookston was edged on the glass 44-36, allowing 16 offensive boards.
Minnesota Crookston was lifted by Emma Miller (Sr., G, Albertville, Minn.) with 27 points, eight boards, and four assists. Miller has scored 1,691 career points. She needs just 34 points to surpass Jamie Zelinsky for the career scoring mark set from 2007-11 with 1,724 points. Miller was 9-of-20 from the field, and 3-of-7 from distance. Riley Jenkins (R-Jr., G/F, Galesburg, Ill.) added 11 points and two boards on 4-of-11 from the field.Rayna Klejeski (Jr., F, Barnum, Minn.) chipped in six points, and seven rebounds. Hope Dudycha (R-Jr., G, Austin, Minn.) chipped in six, while Natalie Mikrot (Sr., G, Willow River, Minn.) chipped in six points. Anna Westby (Fr., F, Eveleth, Minn.) finished with four points, and three rebounds. Halle Winjum (So., G, Crookston, Minn.) notched five rebounds.
The Lopers were propelled by freshman Myleigh Weers in her first career game. She put in 21 points on 8-of-19 from the field, and 4-of-9 from distance. Jordan Sears chipped in 12 points. Lynnae Green added 12 points, and six boards. Gosia Byczkowska notched five points, and 10 boards. Jillian Aschoff had eight points, nine assists, and five boards.
Nebraska Kearney shot 27-of-69 for 39.1 percent. They were 8-of-24 for 33.3 percent from deep, and 11-of-14 for 78.6 percent from the foul line. The Lopers had 15 assists to 16 turnovers.
Minnesota Crookston pushed out to an 8-4 advantage on a Miller trey. The Lopers tied the game 8-8 with 6:48 in the first quarter on a Weers bucket. Nebraska Kearney closed the half on a 10-6 run to go into the quarter break ahead 18-14 after a Weers jumper off an Aschoff helper.
The Lopers pushed out to a 20-14 lead right away in the second off a Tara Biocanin bucket. Minnesota Crookston countered with an 8-0 run propelled by treys from Miller and Mikrot to boast a 22-20 advantage with 8:26 remaining in the second quarter. The two squads went back-and-forth through the remainder of the second stanza with Nebraska Kearney holding a 35-33 advantage off an Aschoff jumper with a second remaining heading into the locker room.
The Lopers extended their lead to four early in the third with a Biocanin bucket. Minnesota Crookston took a lead at the 4:38 mark remaining in the third quarter with a fastbreak basket from Miller to make it 43-41. Nebraska Kearney was able to tilt the scales in their favor, 47-43, with a pair of Sears free throws with 1:54 left in the frame. Minnesota Crookston countered with a 5-0 run to make it 48-47 off a Jenkins free throw with 53 seconds remaining. A late free throw from Jenkins knotted the score 49-49 going into the quarter break.
The Golden Eagles were unable to convert a field goal for the first 4:12 of the fourth quarter as Nebraska Kearney went on a 14-1 run. The Lopers were lifted by nine points from Weers, making it 63-50. Minnesota Crookston was able to slice the deficit to 66-58 on a Mikrot trey with 3:29 left. However, a 4-0 run made it 70-58 after a Paige Horne bucket for the Lopers. Nebraska Kearney took the 73-62.
Minnesota Crookston remains in Kearney, Neb., to face #7 Pittsburg State Saturday, November 15 at 12 p.m.
