CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team put together a strong first half, and weathered a second-half push by Northern State University to earn a 65-58 victory. The Golden Eagles go into the Holiday Break with a two-game win streak.
Minnesota Crookston improved to 3-9 (2-5 NSIC) with Saturday's win at Lysaker Gymnasium. Northern State dropped to 6-6 (2-5 NSIC) with the loss. The Golden Eagles have won three-consecutive games against the Wolves at home. Minnesota Crookston is 5-3 in their last eight games in the series.
The Golden Eagles had a commanding 44-28 break at the half. However, Northern State outscored Minnesota Crookston 22-9 in the third quarter to make it interesting. The Golden Eagles were able to fend off a late charge by outsourcing the Wolves 8-4 in the final two minutes.
The Golden Eagles were lifted by Emma Miller (Sr., G, Albertville, Minn.) with 20 points and four assists on 7-of-17 from the field, and 3-of-6 from distance. Miller had a great week, averaging 26.5 points, 5.0 assists, and 3.0 rebounds in two wins. Riley Jenkins (R-Jr., G/F, Galesburg, Ill.) added 13 points and seven boards. Rayna Klejeski (Jr., F, Barnum, Minn.) added 13 points and four boards, while Anna Westby (Fr., F, Eveleth, Minn.) chipped in 10 points and five boards. Hope Dudycha (R-Jr., G, Austin, Minn.) came off the bench for nine.
Minnesota Crookston shot 24-of-55 from the field for 43.6 percent. They were 6-of-17 for 35.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 11-of-15 for 73.3 percent from the stripe. The Golden Eagles had a strong first half from the field, hitting at a 56.7 percent clip. Minnesota Crookston finished with nine assists, and 10 turnovers.
Northern State was kept in the game with their rebounding, especially on the offensive glass. The Wolves outrebounded the Golden Eagles 46-26, including 22 offensive boards. Northern State had 21 second-chance points.
The Wolves were lifted by Lily Klein with a double-double of 14 points and 10 boards. Izzy Moore, the team's leading scorer this season, was held to seven points and added 11 rebounds. Reagan Rus came off the bench for 11, while Carli Kuyper had eight points and six boards.
Northern State went 24-of-62 from the field for 38.7 percent. They were 5-of-19 for 26.3 percent from distance, and 5-of-7 for 71.4 percent from the stripe.
The Wolves held an early 5-2 edge after a pair of Taylor Tool free throws. Minnesota Crookston countered with a 7-0 run, as a Miller bucket made it 9-5. Rus used a basket to cut the Northern State deficit to 9-7. The Golden Eagles concluded the first quarter on a 7-2 run, as a Westby bucket gave the squad a 16-9 lead at the quarter intermission.
Northern State was able to use a Klein hoop off an Izzy Moore helper to pull within five (18-13) with 8:54 remaining in the second quarter. The Golden Eagles put up an 11-2 run propelled by three triples as they led 29-15. The Wolves got the deficit down to 11 on a Klein trey. However, Minnesota Crookston countered with an 8-0 run to take a game-high 19-point lead on a Jenkins fastbreak basket. The Golden Eagles led 44-28 going into the locker room.
Izzy Moore opened the third quarter with a basket for Northern State to take the deficit to 44-30. A Klejeski bucket pushed the Golden Eagle lead out to 46-30. However, the Wolves rattled off a 9-0 run lifted by six points from Kuyper as they trailed 46-39 with 5:29 remaining in the third stanza. A Westby bucket halted the rally for a moment. However, Northern State came back with a 7-0 run as the Golden Eagles didn't hit a field goal for three minutes. Miller hit a clutch trey to give Minnesota Crookston a 51-46 lead with 2:08 left in the quarter. A Klejeski bucket pushed the lead out to seven, but Northern State closed the quarter on a 4-0 run to trail 53-50 at the quarter recess.
The Wolves opened the quarter with a Rus basket to pull within one point. Minnesota Crookston used a 4-0 run culminating with a Jenkins jumper to make it 57-52 with eight minutes remaining in the tilt. Neither team scored for nearly four minutes until a Megan Counts jumper trimmed the deficit to 57-54. The Golden Eagles responded with a Klejeski putback and a key Miller bucket to make it 61-54 with 1:24 left in the game. They would be able to hold off Northern State down the stretch for the 65-58 win.
Minnesota Crookston remains at home with a game Saturday, January 3 against Minnesota State University Moorhead at 3 p.m., and Sunday, January 4 versus South Dakota Mines.
