CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team fell in an overtime thriller 86-76 Saturday, December 6 to Bemidji State University. The two sides were knotted 76-76 after regulation after game-tying free throws from Kassandra Caron with seven seconds remaining. The Beavers outscored the Golden Eagles 10-0 in overtime to capture the victory.
Minnesota Crookston dropped to 1-7 (0-3 NSIC) with Saturday's loss at Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium. Bemidji State improved to 5-2 (2-1 NSIC) with the victory. The Golden Eagles lead the all-time series 26-23. The Beavers have won two of the last three in Crookston, while Minnesota Crookston is 5-2 in the last seven meetings between the two foes.
The Golden Eagles had four players score in double figures. Hope Dudycha (R-Jr., G, Austin, Minn.) had one of her best games as a Golden Eagle with 16 points, four rebounds, and two assists. Dudycha went 6-of-11, and was an unblemished 4-of-4 from three-point range. Anna Westby (Fr., F, Eveleth, Minn.) chipped in 16 points. Rayna Klejeski (Jr., F, Barnum, Minn.) added 15 points, and eight boards. Tayden Hanks (Jr., F, Los Lunas, N.M.) came off the bench for a career-high 11 points on 5-of-7 from the field. Emma Miller (Sr., G, Albertville, Minn.), and Riley Jenkins (R-Jr., G/F, Galesburg, Ill.) each had six rebounds.
Minnesota Crookston shot 25-of-61 for 41.0 percent from the field. The Golden Eagles were 8-of-20 from distance for 40.0 percent. They went 18-of-30 for 60.0 percent from the stripe. Minnesota Crookston outrebounded Bemidji State 38-36, including 12 offensive boards. They finished with 13 turnovers.
The Beavers were guided by 23 points from Kassandra Caron on 4-of-8 from the field, and 15-of-18 from the stripe. Evyn Eppinga had 19 points, and seven boards. Aubrey Heyer had 10 points, and five rebounds. Gabrielle Fineday came off the bench for 10 points, including going 3-of-6 from distance.
The Beavers went 26-of-58 for 44.8 percent from the field. They were 12-of-34 for 35.3 percent from distance, and 22-of-26 for 84.6 percent from the charity stripe. Bemidji State notched 13 turnovers.
Bemidji State raced out to a 12-4 lead after a pair of Caron free throws with 4:52 left in the first quarter. The Golden Eagles closed the opening stanza on a 13-0 run as a Westby bucket gave Minnesota Crookston a 17-12 advantage at the quarter intermission.
The Beavers began the second frame on a 4-0 run, using an Ashlynne Guenther basket to pull within 17-16. A pair of Klejeski free throws widened the lead to 19-16. However, BSU came back with a Brooklyn Wood triple to tie the game 19-19. The Golden Eagles took the lead back 24-22 on a pair of Klejeski free throws with 5:36 left in the quarter. A 5-0 run for the Beavers gave Bemidji State a 27-24 lead. Bemidji State pushed their lead to 33-26 on a Tieryn Plasch trey with 2:43 left in the first half. The Beavers went into the break with a 41-30 lead after a Aubrey Heyer trey gave Bemidji State a 17-8 run to close the second quarter.
A Caron basket to open the third quarter, extended the lead to 43-30. A Jenkins bucket led a 5-0 run as Minnesota Crookston cut the deficit to 43-35. Minnesota Crookston cut the Beaver advantage to 44-40 on a Westby basket. A Caron free throw gave Bemidji State a 45-40 lead. Minnesota Crookston cut the deficit to two points after a Westby old-fashioned three-point play. Four-straight points from Caron extended the Bemidji State lead to 48-43. An Aubrey Heyer jumper pushed the Beaver advantage to 58-48. Minnesota Crookston closed the deficit to 62-54 on a Miller free throw going into the quarter sojourn.
A Fineday triple to open the fourth pushed the lead to 65-54. Minnesota Crookston countered with a 7-0 run as a Miler trey cut the Beaver lead to 65-61. BSU was able to widen the gap to 70-65 on an Eppinga basket with 5:42 left in the tilt. Minnesota Crookston pulled within two on a Hanks trey with 4:44 remaining in the contest. An Eppinga basket extended the gap to 74-70. Minnesota Crookston responded with a 6-0 run, using a Westby free throw to go ahead 76-74 with 20 seconds remaining. Caron was fouled with seven seconds remaining, sending her to the line where she tied the game 76-76.
Bemidji State controlled the overtime period as they went on a 10- run to win 86-76.
Minnesota Crookston hits the road to face the University of Mary Thursday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m., in Bismarck, N.D.
