CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Mary picked up an 87-68 victory over the University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team Saturday, February 14 at Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium. The Marauders shot 52.2 percent from the field, and hit 12 treys as they picked up the win on the road.
Minnesota Crookston dropped to 8-18 (7-13 NSIC) with the loss. The Golden Eagles are currently tied for 11th with Minot State in the NSIC standings. They are a game behind the University of Sioux Falls in the 10th, and a game ahead of Augustana University. Minnesota Crookston has two games remaining to solidify a spot in the NSIC Tournament. UMary improved to 21-8 (14-6 NSIC). The Marauders have won the last six games in the series. Minnesota Crookston last won December 31, 2022 in Crookston.
Emma Miller (Sr., G, Albertville, Minn.) led the way with 25 points on 7-of-17 from the field, 3-of-8 from beyond the arc, and 8-of-8 from the stripe. Miller averaged 25.5 points this week. She surpassed the NSIC all-time record earlier this week, and now has 1,654 career conference points. Overall, Miller has 2,172 career points. Miller and Minnesota Crookston's other three seniors Hope Dudycha, Natalie Mikrot, and Riley Jenkins were honored for Senior Day prior to the game.
Rayna Klejeski (Jr., F, Barnum, Minn.) added 12 points and seven boards on 5-of-12 from the field. She had four offensive boards. Klejeski has scored in double-digits in eight-consecutive games. Anna Westby (Fr., F, Eveleth, Minn.) came off the bench for 12 points, six boards, and a blocked shot. Westby needs 10 blocked shots to surpass Nicole Hernandez for the single-season blocks record. Dudycha added eight points on senior day.
Minnesota Crookston shot 23-of-57 for 40.4 percent from the field. They went 10-of-27 for 37.0 percent from beyond the arc, and 12-of-16 for 75.0 percent from the line. The Golden Eagles had 10 assists to 10 turnovers. They were outrebounded 38-32.
UMary was led by Emily Jaenke with 21 points on 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. Jaenke, who averages 7.9 points per game this season, is averaging 21.5 points against the Golden Eagles this season, and 6.5 three-pointers per game. Bergen Kinnebrew added 19 points and four assists. Allison Undlin added 20 points and seven boards, on a perfect 10-of-10 from the field. Anna Lenzen added 12 points and eight boards.
UMary shot 36-of-69 for 52.2 percent from the field. The Marauders were 12-of-29 from beyond the arc for 41.4 percent, and a perfect 3-of-3 from the line. The Marauders scored 44 points in the paint.
The Marauders raced to an 11-2 lead on a Lenzen putback. The Golden Eagles pulled within 13-9 with Miller free throws with 4:54 left in the first quarter. UMary used a 5-0 rally to go ahead 18-9 on an old-fashioned three-point play from Chloe Pfau. An 8-0 and a Miller basket brought the Golden Eagles within 18-17 with 1:43 left in the stanza. The Marauders went into the quarter intermission with a 23-20 lead.
A Dudycha trey gave the Golden Eagles a 23-23 tie right away in the second stanza. Kinnebrew scored to make it 25-23, but a Miller triple on the opposite end gave Minnesota Crookston a 26-25 edge with 9:06 left in the quarter. UMary fired back with an 11-0 run as Lenzen found Pfau for two to put the Marauders ahead 36-26. A Klejeski trimmed the deficit to eight, but UMary came back with a 10-2 run as a Jaenke triple made it 46-28 at the half.
Minnesota Crookston got the deficit down to 12 in the fourth quarter on a Westby trey with 5:11 left in the game, but back-to-back Jaenke treys put the game out of reach, as UMary won 87-68.
The Golden Eagles remain at home to host University of Minnesota Duluth Wednesday, February 18 at 5:30 p.m.
