KEARNEY, Neb. - The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team fell 82-78 in a hard-fought loss to #7 Pittsburg State University Saturday, November 15 at the Health and Sports Center in Kearney, Neb. The Gorillas went on a 5-0 run late to take just a two-point advantage out to a seven-point advantage. Rayna Klejeski (Jr., F, Barnum, Minn.) hit a trey to pull within four points, but it wouldn't be enough for the win.
The Golden Eagles fell to 0-2, while Pittsburg State improved to 2-0. Pittsburg State has won both games in the all-time series.
Minnesota Crookston was propelled by Emma Miller (Sr., G, Albertville, Minn.) with 23 points, six rebounds, and seven assists. Miller went 9-of-23 from the field, and 2-of-8 from distance. Miller needs just 11 points to break the Minnesota Crookston scoring record of Jamie Zelinsky of 1,724 points set in 2011.
Rayna Klejeski (Jr., F, Barnum, Minn.) had a career-high with 17 points and tallied eight boards. She went 6-of-11 from the field. Riley Jenkins (R-Jr., G/F, Barnum, Minn.) notched 14 points and four boards. Anna Westby (Fr., F, Eveleth, Minn.) finished with 10 points, and five rebounds. Halle Winjum (So., G, Crookston, Minn.) notched eight points, and four rebounds. Emma Pierson (Fr., G, Cherry Valley, Ill.) scored six points in five minutes with two treys.
The Golden Eagles shot 29-of-65 for 44.6 percent from the field. They went 10-of-25 for 40.0 percent from beyond the arc, and were 10-of-14 from the stripe for 71.4 percent. Minnesota Crookston was outrebounded 40-33. The Gorillas had 15 offensive boards, while UMN Crookston had 12. The Golden Eagles had 10 assists to 10 turnovers.
Pittsburg State was guided by Harper Schreiner with 19 points on 6-of-9 from the field, including 6-of-7 from the stripe. She had a double-double with 11 rebounds. Clara Swearingen added 12 points, and seven assists. Ja'Miya Brown finished with 12 points, as did Marin Adams. Kaycee McCumber notched 10 points.
The Gorillas were 27-of-57 for 47.4 percent from the field. They went 6-of-23 from the arc for 26.1 percent, and 22-of-34 for 64.7 percent from the line. Pittsburg State notched 12 assists, to 13 turnovers.
Minnesota Crookston jetted out to a 4-0 lead on a Miller lay-in. The Gorillas countered with a 6-0 run culminating with an Adams old-fashioned three-point play to make it 6-4. The Golden Eagles responded with an 8-0 run as a Miller basket put Minnesota Crookston ahead 12-6 with 5:05 left in the quarter. The Golden Eagles pushed their advantage to 17-8 on a Miller triple with 3:17 remaining in the stanza. Pittsburg State closed the quarter on a 9-0 run finished by three free throws by McCumber to make it 17-17 at the quarter break.
The Gorillas built their run to 16-0 to take a 24-17 lead after a Swearingen three-pointer. Minnesota Crookston was able to get the deficit to three points with 4:39 after back-to-back jumpers from Miller and Jenkins. Pittsburg State responded with an 8-0 run led by a Cambrie Phillips triple to widen the gap to 34-23 with 2:08 left in the stanza. Minnesota Crookston chipped away at the advantage to go into the locker room trailing 36-33 after a pair of Klejeski free throws. Pierson aided the charge with a pair of treys.
Pittsburg State went on a 5-0 run to open the second half as a Brown triple made it 41-33. The Golden Eagles responded and took a 46-45 lead on a Westby jumper with 5:40 left in the quarter. Minnesota Crookston held a two-point advantage after a Miller trey with 3:41 remaining. The Gorillas closed the frame on a 4-0 run to go into the break 58-57.
Minnesota Crookston took a 61-60 advantage on a Miller triple with 8:07 remaining in the game. The Golden Eagles would be tied with the Gorillas 65-65 following a Klejeski bucket. Pittsburg State responded with an 8-0 run as a Schreiner trey pushed the lead to 73-65. The Golden Eagles did not give in, as they made a late charge with a Winjum trey pulling the squad within two (77-75) with 1:48 left on the clock. The Gorillas scored five-straight points to make it 82-75. Klejeski hit the late three, but it wouldn't be enough in the 82-78 loss.
The Golden Eagles return home to host Black Hills State University Wednesday, November 19 at 4 p.m., in Crookston, marking the home debut for Minnesota Crookston.
