Women's Basketball | 1/9/2026 9:36:00 PM

WINONA, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team fell 86-66 on the road to Winona State University Friday, January 9 at McCown Gymnasium. The Warriors outscored the Golden Eagles 29-15 in the opening quarter and didn't look back in Friday's win.

The Golden Eagles dropped to 3-12 (2-7 NSIC) with Friday's loss. Winona State improved to 10-5 (7-2 NSIC). Minnesota Crookston had won three of the last four coming in, but the Warriors were able to get the edge Friday.

Minnesota Crookston was led by the program's all-time leading scorer Emma Miller (Sr., G, Albertville, Minn.), who secured 25 points on 11-of-22 from the field. Miller surpassed Concordia-St. Paul's Anika Whiting to break into the top three in scoring all-time for the Golden Eagles. Miller is 177 points away from Brooke Olson's NSIC record. 

Riley Jenkins (R-Jr., G/F, Galesburg, Ill.) added 12 points on 5-of-11 from the field. Rayna Klejeski (Jr., F, Barnum, Minn.) chipped in nine points, while Anna Westby (Fr., F, Eveleth, Minn.) had eight. The Golden Eagles shot 27-of-70 for 38.6 percent from the field, and 5-of-27 for 18.5 percent from deep. They went 7-of-11 for 63.6 percent from the stripe. They were controlled on the glass 47-28. Minnesota Crookston had just 11 turnovers Friday.

Winona State was lifted by 24 points from Sadie Jarmolowicz on an unblemished 7-of-7 from the field, and 5-of-5 from beyond the arc. Hailey Markworth added 19 points on 8-of-15 from the field. Megan Schuman finished with 10 points and eight boards, while Vivica Bretton had nine points and six assists. The Warriors shot 32-of-61 for 52.5 percent. They were on-point from distance, hitting 9-of-16 for 56.3 percent. Winona State went 13-of-18 from the foul line.

The Warriors took an 8-4 advantage on a Markworth basket. Minnesota Crookston rallied and tied the game 10-10 as Miller found the bucket with 4:56 left in the quarter. However, Winona State finished the final half of the first stanza on a 19-5 run to lead 29-15 at the break.

Minnesota Crookston had the deficit down to 12 on a Klejeski free throw early in the stanza, but held a 49-27 deficit at the break.

The Golden Eagles made an early charge in the third frame with a 12-4 run to pull within 53-40 on a Miller hoop with 6:13 remaining in the third quarter. The Warriors countered with a 7-0 run as a Jarmolowicz jumper put the lead to 60-40. Winona State held a 72-49 advantage in the huddle at the quarter break.

Minnesota Crookston was unable to overcome the deficit in the fourth quarter, dropping the game 86-66.

The Golden Eagles head to Concordia-St. Paul for a 4 p.m. tip in St. Paul, Minn. Saturday, January 10.