ABERDEEN, S.D. - The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team earned a dominant 68-48 victory over Northern State University Thursday, February 5 at Wachs Arena in Aberdeen, S.D. Rayna Klejeski (So., F, Barnum, Minn.) propelled Minnesota Crookston with a double-double of 21 points and 13 boards.
The Golden Eagles improved to 6-17 (5-12 NSIC). Minnesota Crookston earns the season sweep of the Wolves. The Golden Eagles picked up their first win in Aberdeen since December 9, 2022. Minnesota Crookston is 4-2 versus Northern State in their last six meetings.
Minnesota Crookston had their best defensive performance of the season, limiting the Wolves to just 48 points. The Golden Eagles had their most dominating defensive performance since limiting Crown College to 46 points November 18. The mark is the best for the Golden Eagles against a NSIC foe since defeating Bemidji State University 73-48 January 16, 2017 in Crookston. The Golden Eagles limited Northern State to 18-of-59 for 30.5 percent from the field. The Wolves went 4-of-17 for 23.5 percent from beyond the arc. They were 8-of-11 for 72.7 percent from the stripe. Northern State had 15 turnovers.
The Golden Eagles set the tone outscoring the Wolves 33-17 in the first half. Minnesota Crookston was guided with Klejeski's double-double. She tallied her career-high 21 points on 8-of-12 from the field. Klejeski has consecutive double-doubles, and three this season. She notched six offensive boards in the victory.
Emma Miller (Sr., G, Albertville, Minn.) had 15 points on 5-of-11 from the field, and 3-of-7 from beyond the arc. Miller is closing in on the NSIC's all-time scoring record. She is 28 points away from surpassing Minnesota Duluth's Brooke Olson. Miller has 1,588 career points in conference play. Riley Jenkins (R-Jr., G/F, Galesburg, Ill.) poured in 18 points on 7-of-12 from the field, and 3-of-6 from distance. Hope Dudycha (R-Jr., G, Austin, Minn.) came off the bench for six points. Anna Westby (Fr., F, Eveleth, Minn.) added nine boards, and four blocked shots. Westby is 20 blocked shots away from setting the school record for single-season blocks, currently held by Nicole Hernandez with 80.
The Golden Eagles shot 25-of-55 for 45.5 percent. Minnesota Crookston went 7-of-21 for 33.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 11-of-14 for 78.6 percent from the stripe. Minnesota Crookston had nine assists to 15 turnovers. They outrebounded Northern State 43-31, including 11 offensive boards.
The Wolves were led by 16 points and five boards from Izzy Moore.
The Golden Eagles raced out to a 5-0 lead on a Klejeski free throw. The Golden Eagles pushed their lead to 7-2 with a Jenkins jumper. They pulled within 9-7 on a Taylor Tool jumper. Minnesota Crookston closed the first half on an 11-2 run, utilizing a Miller triple to go ahead 20-9 at the quarter break.
The Golden Eagles widened the gap to 25-11 on a Klejeski jumper with 6:49 remaining in the stanza. Minnesota Crookston pushed their advantage to 33-15 on a Dudycha jumper with over a minute remaining in the frame. A Megan Counts bucket pulled Northern State within 33-17 going into the locker room.
Minnesota Crookston built their advantage to 20 (41-21) on a Jenkins trey with 6:27 left in the quarter. They extended their lead to 46-23 with a Halle Winjum (So., G, Crookston, Minn.) triple. Northern State pulled within 18 (48-30) on a Moore trey heading into the quarter intermission.
A Miller trey to open the quarter pushed the Golden Eagle lead to 51-30 early in the fourth session. The Wolves made a charge with a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to 51-37 on a pair of Reagan Rus free throws. Northern State took the deficit to 11 (55-44) off a Morgan Fiedler bucket off the steal. However, Minnesota Crookston fended off the charge using a 7-0 run. The Golden Eagles picked up the victory 68-48.
Minnesota Crookston remains on the road to face University of Jamestown Saturday, February 7 at 1 p.m., at Harold Newman Arena in Jamestown, N.D.
