The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Women’s Basketball team’s slow first half was costly in a 93-79 loss to Pittsburg State in the NSIC/MIAA Conference Challenge in Aberdeen, South Dakota. UMC was led by Willow Thiel (Fresh. Perham) with 14 points and 6 assists in her second career collegiate game.
FIRST QUARTER –
Pittsburg State set the tone at the start of the game by going on a 9-1 run in the first two minutes. UMC’s Riley Jenkins made a basket to stop the run. After a Pittsburg State basket, UMC’s Nicole Hernandez made a short jump shot only to have PSU score four straight points for a 15-5 lead halfway through the quarter. UMC’s Thiel made two free throws before PSU answered with back-to-back three-pointers, a pair of baskets, and one free throw for a commanding 26-7 lead with 90 seconds left in the quarter. UMC finished the quarter strong with a Jenkins layup, a Natalie Mikrot basket in the paint, and another Jenkins basket to get within a 26-13 deficit at the end of the quarter.
SECOND QUARTER –
Pittsburg State jumped on UMC at the start of the quarter with a 10-3 run to build a 36-16 lead three minutes into the period. UMC stopped the run with five straight points from Jenkins to get within a 36-21 deficit. After five PSU points, UMC’s Hope Dudycha scored seven straight points, and Thiel added a basket to get within a 41-30 deficit with 2:21 to go in the half. PSU finished the quarter strong and took a 50-34 lead into halftime.
THIRD QUARTER –
Pittsburg State dominated the third quarter as they went on a 26-12 run in the first six minutes for a 67-42 lead. UMC’s Taryn Frazier (Jr. Cass Lake) scored five straight points only to have PSU respond with four points. With 93 seconds to go in the quarter, Kloe Wadd made two free throws, and after one PSU free throw, Emma Miller (Jr. Albertville) buried a three-pointer only to have PSU finish the quarter with a three-pointer for a 75-59 lead.
FOURTH QUARTER –
Pittsburg State continued to control the game as they had an 88-70 lead with 4:25 remaining in the game. PSU started to make some substitutions, and UMC took advantage. Miller made two free throws, and after a PSU basket, Miller added a basket. PSU made a basket before UMC’s Dudycha made a free throw, Wadd added a layup, and in the final seconds of the game, Brynlea Mahlen (Fresh. Fosston) made two free throws to get within a 93-79 deficit, and that is how the game ended.
UMC drops to 0-2 on the year and will travel to Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan, on Friday, November 15. Pittsburg State is 3-1 on the year.
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| UM-Crookston | 13 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 79 |
| Pittsburg St. | 26 | 24 | 25 | 18 | 93 |
| For UMC | Points | Rebounds | Assists/Steals |
| Willow Thiel | 14 | 6 | 1 assist |
| Riley Jenkins | 13 | 3 | 2 assists/2 steals |
| Emma Miller | 11 | 2 | 2 assists/1 steal |
| Taryn Frazier | 11 | 2 | 2 steals/1 assist |
| Hope Dudycha | 11 | 3 | 1 assists |
| Nicole Hernandez | 6 | 7 | 3 blocks/1 assist |
| Natalie Mikrot | 5 | 1 assist | |
| Kloe Wade | 4 | 1 assist/1 steal | |
| Rayna Klejeski | 2 | 3 | |
| Brynlea Mahlen | 2 | 2 | 1 assist |
