The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Women’s Basketball team fell to the St. Cloud State Huskies at home, 79-64, in an NSIC contest at Lysaker Gymnasium in Crookston.
FIRST QUARTER –
The first five minutes proved to be an offensive struggle or defensive battle as UMC took a 3-2 lead on a nice Riley Jenkins (Fresh. Galesburg, IL) with 4:52 left in the quarter. Less than 30 seconds later, UMC’s Emma Miller (Soph. St. Michael) buried a three-pointer for a 6-2 lead. St. Cloud State responded with five points to take a 7-6 lead. UMC’s Ainsley McLain (Fresh. Grafton, ND) scored on a layup, but SCSU answered with a basket with seven seconds left in the quarter for a 9-8 lead, which they took into the second quarter.
UMC only made 3 of 14 shot attempts in the quarter for 21 percent. SCSU only made 4 of 22 shots for 18 percent. Both teams were 1-9 on three-pointers. UMC had one of their strongest quarters of the year in terms of taking care of the ball, as they only turned the ball over one time in the first 10 minutes.
SECOND QUARTER –
The teams battled back and forth in the first three minutes of the quarter, and SCSU led 18-15 with 6:32 left in the half. SCSU led 21-16 when they started to heat up from three-point land. The Huskies Morgan Draheim made a three-pointer, and they added a layup for a 26-16 lead. UMC’s Nicole Hernandez scored in the paint before SCSU’s Alana Sawicki and Dru Henning made back-to-back three-pointers, followed by a couple of Husky baskets to cap an 8-2 run for a 34-18 lead with 2:54 left in the half. After a SCSU basket, UMC’s Jenkins grabbed an offensive rebound and scored. SCSU made another three-pointer before UMC’s McLain made a three-pointer, and the Huskies took a 39-23 lead into halftime.
St. Cloud State made 6 of 6 three-pointers and shot 67 percent (12 of 18) from the field in the quarter. UMC was 6 of 17 from the field and 2 of 7 on three-pointers.
THIRD QUARTER –
UMC trailed 43-26 when Miller made a three-pointer and was followed by two Jenkins free throws to get within a 43-31 deficit with seven minutes to go in the quarter. The teams exchanged baskets before they exchanged three-pointers. The Golden Eagles’ McLain and Miller made back-to-back layups to cut SCSU’s lead down to 48-40 with three minutes remaining. SCSU responded with a 13-0 run that was capped by four straight three-pointers for a 61-40 lead, and they would take a 61-41 lead into the fourth quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER –
In the fourth, UMC and St. Cloud State each traded twos before Hope Dudycha (R-Fresh Austin, MN) drained a three to make it 65-46 with the Huskies still on top. UMC would attempt to mount another run, as Miller hit a pair of free throws and Hernandez knocked down a three to make it 68-51. Miller hit another three, and Hernandez, this time laying it in for the Golden Eagles, trimmed the Huskies lead down to 70-56. Dyducha sunk another three to make it 70-59 before Miller made a free throw to suddenly make it a 70-60 game. St. Cloud State responded with a three and a two in the paint to pull back up to a 15-point lead. St. Cloud State added a pair of twos with only a minute left to build their lead to a comfortable 17-point margin. UMC would hit a couple of free throws late as St. Cloud State took the victory, 79-64.
UMC drops to 9-13 on the season and 6-10 in NSIC play. The Golden Eagles will host Bemidji State next Thursday on KROX. St. Cloud State imroves to 12-7 on the year and 9-6 in NSIC play. The Huskies will host Northern State on Saturday.
Click here for Coach Moynihan’s post-game interview.
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
SCSU | 9 | 30 | 22 | 14 | 75 |
UMC | 8 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 60 |
For UMC | Points | Rebounds | Assists/Steals |
Emma Miller | 19 | 6 | 2/2 |
Ainsley McClain | 13 | 2 | 0 |
Riley Jenkins | 9 | 7 | 6/1 |
Olivia Walsh | 8 | 3 | 2 |
Hope Dudycha | 7 | 2 | 2 |
Nicole Hernandez | 7 | 4 | 1 |
Rayna Klejeski | 1 | 3 | 0 |