CROOKSTON, Minn. - Emma Miller (Sr., G, Albertville, Minn.) set the career scoring mark as the University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team took down Black Hills State University 75-68. The Golden Eagles made their home debut Wednesday evening, and picked up their first win of the 2025-26 campaign. 

Minnesota Crookston improved to 1-2 with their win over the Yellow Jackets. Black Hills State dropped to 1-2. The win was the first for the Golden Eagles over Yellow Jackets, moving to 1-1 in their all-time series. 

Miller moved past Jamie Zelinsky's previous record of 1,724 career points, set in 2011. Miller has 1,740 career points, which is now the standard in the Minnesota Crookston record books. She finished with 26 points on 8-of-20 on the field, and a perfect 8-of-8 from the stripe. She added seven rebounds, and three assists. She set the school record on a lay-up early in the second quarter.

Minnesota Crookston had three players score in double figures. Anna Westby (Fr., F, Eveleth, Minn.) made her debut at Lysaker Gymnasium with 13 points and nine boards. Westby was 5-of-8 from the field. Riley Jenkins (R-Jr., G/F, Galesburg, Ill.) finished with 13 points on 3-of-9 from the field. Rayna Klejeski (Jr., F, Barnum, Minn.) finished with nine points and eight boards. Hope Dudycha (R-Jr., G, Austin, Minn.) chipped in nine points, including 2-of-3 from distance.

Minnesota Crookston shot 24-of-56 for 42.9 percent from the field. The Golden Eagles were 4-of-12 for 33.3 percent from distance, and 23-of-29 for 79.3 percent from the foul line. The Golden Eagles were edged on the glass 37-34. They forced 19 turnovers by the Yellow Jackets. Minnesota Crookston had nine assists and 10 turnovers.

Black Hills State shot 25-of-57 for 43.9 percent from the field. The difference was at the foul line where the Yellow Jackets were just 12-of-21 for 57.1 percent from the line.

Minnesota Crookston took a 10-7 lead in the first quarter on a Westby jumper. Black Hills State closed within 19-18 on an Emily Cooper three at the end of the stanza.

A Dudycha trey extended the Golden Eagle lead to 22-18 with 9:46 left in the second. The Yellow Jackets overtook Minnesota Crookston 27-26 on an Addison Branscum triple. The Yellow Jackets pushed their lead to 37-30 on a Maureen Ulrich free throw. The Golden Eagles closed the second quarter on a 6-0 run, as a pair of Westby free throws trimmed the deficit to 39-37 going into the break.

A Tess Rule bucket gave Black Hills State a 41-37 lead early in the third quarter. Minnesota Crookston cut the lead to one (45-44) on a Jenkins free throw. A 4-0 run by the Yellow Jackets culminating in a Branscum lay-in. Black Hills State widened the gap to 57-50 on a Sawyer Stoebner basket with 37 seconds remaining in the stanza. A pair of Klejeski free throws cut the deficit to 57-52 going into the quarter sojourn. 

Minnesota Crookston used a 7-0 run lifted by an old-fashioned three-point play from Jenkins to give the Golden Eagles a 59-57 advantage with 6:21 left in the game. Black Hills State took the lead back 61-59 on a pair of Stoebner free throws. Minnesota Crookston came back with a 5-0 run as a Dudycha triple gave the squad a 66-61 advantage. Stoebner cut the Black Hills State deficit to two with 1:52 remaining. A Miller trey helped ice the game to send Minnesota Crookston to the 75-68 win.

Minnesota Crookston hits the road Tuesday, November 25 to face Minnesota State University Moorhead.