SHOOTING WOES CONTINUE AS UMC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL FALLS TO NORTHERN STATE

The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) Golden Eagles Women’s Basketball team turned the ball over 17 times and shot just 39% from the field in a 78-64 loss to Northern State in an NSIC game played at Lysaker Gymnasium in Crookston.

First Quarter –
Northern State opened the game with a 6-0 run before Kylie Post (Soph., Corcoran) scored a basket trimming UMC’s deficit down to 6-2. Trailing 12-6, Kylie Post scored a lay-up bringing the Golden Eagles within 12-8 with 5:38 to play in the first quarter. Emma Carpenter (Fr., Eagan) connected on a three-pointer trimming Minnesota Crookston’s deficit down to 16-11 before back-to-back Northern State baskets pushed the visitor’s lead to 20-11 after one quarter. “Just in the overall performance of the game, we just weren’t efficient enough shooting the basketball,” explained Minnesota Crookston head coach Mike Roysland. “We just weren’t able to match them score for score, and I felt like we left a lot of baskets at the rim.”

Second Quarter –
After a Northern State free-throw, UMC went on a 5-0 run, including four straight points by Abby Guidinger (Jr., Waukesha, WI) bringing the Golden Eagles within 21-16 with 7:22 to play in the quarter. Northern State answered with a 7-0 run to take a 28-16 lead. Abby Guidinger knocked down a three-pointer sparking a 10-0 run that cut NSU’s lead down to 28-26 with 1:24 to play in the half. Northern State scored the final points of the half, taking a 30-26 lead into the locker room. “I really did (feel confident),” said Roysland. “With the baskets we left at the rim in the first half and the free-throws.”

Third Quarter –
Kylie Post made a pair of free-throws to cut UMC’s deficit down to 35-32 with 7:35 to play in the third quarter before Northern State used an 8-2 run, increasing its lead to 43-34. Post added two more free-throws late in the quarter to pull within 49-43, but the Wolves scored 11 straight points to end the third quarter with a 60-43 lead. “They made shots, and we didn’t,” added Roysland. “Taking a look at our shooting percentage, it’s difficult to recover from that. Everything becomes a struggle when you can’t make shots.”

Fourth Quarter –
Northern State continued to pull ahead to open the fourth quarter taking a 20 point lead with 7:23 to play. Alyssa Peterson (Fr., Menhaga) made a three-pointer to spark a 7-0 run bringing the Golden Eagles within 75-62 with 1:42 to play. The Wolves maintained a comfortable lead in the closing minute as Northern State closed out a 78-64 win. “I wish that we could’ve gound a groove offensively,” summarized Roysland. “If we can start to find some consistency at the offensive end, other things will start to sort each other out. Your defense can become better when you’re scoring the basketball.”

Minnesota Crookston falls to 2-11 on the year and 1-8 in NSIC play. The Golden Eagles return to the court on Saturday when UMC takes on MSU-Moorhead at 3:30 P.M. Northern State improves to 10-5 overall and 6-3 in the NSIC.