MSU-MANKATO USES SUFOCATING DEFENSE TO BEAT UMC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Women’s Basketball team is taking on Minnesota State Mankato in an NSIC matchup at Lysaker Gym.

FIRST QUARTER –
Mankato started the game on a 5-0 run before UMC’s Janie Tormanen (Soph. Menagha) scored in the paint after a nice pass from Riley Jenkins (Fresh. Galesburg, Illinois). After a Mankato three-pointer, UMC’s Emma Miller (Soph. Albertville) hit a runner through the lane and Olivia Walsh (Fresh. Austin, MN) made a free throw and the Golden Eagles trailed 8-5 three minutes into the game. Mankato scored four points before UMC’s Tormanen converted an old-fashion three-point play to get within a 12-8 deficit. Halfway through the quarter, UMC trailed 17-10 when Tormanen made a layup and Walsh buried a three-pointer and on the next posession she added a layup to tie the game at 17 with 4:26 left. Mankato outscored UMC 18-2 the rest of the quarter and took a 35-19 lead.
UMC had 15 turnovers in the quarter tha led to 20 Mankato points.

SECOND QUARTER –
The Mavericks suffocating defense continued to cause problems for UMC in the second quarter as the Mavericks forced 15 more turnovers that led to 15 Mankato points. UMC couldn’t get anything going on the offensive end when they were able to get a shot off as they were 2 of 9 for 22 percent, were outscored 24-4 and trailed 59-23 at halftime.

THIRD QUARTER –
Mankato scored the first four points of the second half before UMC’s Walsh scored in the paint. UMC continued to turn theball over and Mankato had a 70-25 lad less than three minutes into the quarter. UMC was able to score 11 points in the quarter, but gave up 27 and trailed 86-34 at the end of the quarter.
UMC only made 3 of 15 shots for 20 percent in the quarter and only turned the ball over six times for a game total of 36 after three quarters.

FOURTH QUARTER –
Mankato stopped the suffocating defense and played everybody in the fourth quarter as Crookston outscored the Mavericks 15-14. Mankato scored late to win the game 100-49. One highlight for UMC was Nicole Hernandez’s play as she had 12 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 assists.
UMC had 42 turnovers in the game while Mankato scored 48 points off turnovers and also had 26 second chance points. Mankato was 36 of 92 from the field for 39 percent shooting. 

UMC drops to 9-7 overall and 6-4 in the NSIC and will host the University of Sioux Falls on Friday night. Mankato improves to 12-4 overall and 9-1 in the NSIC.

CLICK HERE to listen to Coach Natalie Moynihan’s postgame comments.