UMC Women’s Basketball second half comeback falls short in a loss to SW MN State

The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles Women’s Basketball team got behind early, and a great second-half comeback came up short in a 76-66 loss to the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs in Marshall.

FIRST QUARTER
SMSU jumped out to a 5-0 lead before UMC’s Rayna Klejeski (Jr. Barnum) made a free throw two minutes into the game. Anna Westby (Fresh. Eveleth) followed with a basket to get within a 5-3 deficit. SMSU made a three-pointer before the Golden Eagles answered with a 6-0 run with four points from Klejeski and an Emma Miller basket for a 10-8 lead halfway through the quarter. The Mustangs tied the game at 10 before UMC’s Klejeski made two free throws for a 12-10 lead. Southwest finished the quarter on a 12-0 run to take a 22-12 lead.

SECOND QUARTER –
SMSU carried the momentum from the end of the first quarter into the second, scoring the first six points for a 28-18 lead. UMC’s Miller made a runner to stop the run. The teams exchanged baskets for a while before Riley Jenkins (Jr. Galesburg, IL) made a jump shot to get the Golden Eagles within a 30-18 deficit. Southwest responded with a 13-4 run to build a 43-22 lead with two minutes left in the half. UMC’s Klejeski stopped the run with a basket before Miller made a layup. Southwest ended the half with a three-pointer with two seconds left for a 46-26 lead at halftime.

THIRD QUARTER –
The teams exchanged baskets at the start of the half, and with Southwest leading 50-30, UMC’s Miller scored four points to get within a 50-34 deficit, and the Mustangs answered with three free throws. The back-and-forth battle continued as UMC’s Westby converted a three-point play to get within a 53-17 deficit four minutes into the quarter. All the momentum UMC had was taken away when the Mustangs scored eight straight for a 61-37 lead with four minutes left in the quarter. UMC answered with a 6-2 run with four points from Halle Winjum (Fresh. Crookston) and a basket from Miller. Southwest ended the quarter with a basket to take a 65-46 lead into the fourth quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER –
SMSU made a three-pointer to start the fourth quarter before the Golden Eagles answered with a 15-0 run.  Westby led the way with six points, Winjum added five. Miller and Klejeski added a basket each and UMC trailed 68-61 with 5:48 to go.
SMSU stopped the run with three free throws before UMC responded with three free throws, and with 1:26 left, SMSU led 71-64, and the Golden Eagles had a steal, but missed a shot before the Mustangs made a big three-pointer for a 74-64 lead with 62 seconds remaining. The teams exchanged baskets in the final minute and Southwest held off the Golden Eagle rally for a 76-66 victory.

UMC drops to 4-10 in the NSIC and 5-15 overall and will host Minnesota State Mankato on Friday. SMSU improves to 10-4 in the NSIC and 12-7 overall.