UMC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CAN’T HOLD 4TH QUARTER LEAD AGAINST WINONA STATE

The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Women’s Basketball team fell on the road to the Winona State Warriors 70-62 in an NSIC matchup.

FIRST QUARTER –
In the first quarter, UMC jumped out to a great start, with Emma Miller (Soph Albertville, MN) getting three baskets and Nicole Hernandez (R-Jr. Oak Creek, WI) getting a layup. Riley Jenkins (R-Fresh Galesburg, IL) knocked down a pair of threes to open up a 14-4 lead halfway through the quarter. Hernandez hit a triple to give UMC a 17-7 lead. Jenkins and Miller would cap off a 21-point quarter with a pair of short field goals to give UMC a 21-11 lead after one. 

SECOND QUARTER –
In the second quarter, UMC got off to another great start, this time going on a 10-2 run with Hope Dudycha (R-Fresh Austin, MN) hitting a two and a three and Hernandez with a two-point field goal. Miller added a three during the run to give the Golden Eagles a 31-13 lead. Hernandez hit a three to give UMC a 36-19 lead. Winona State ended the quarter on a 13-0 run to close UMC’s lead at the half 36-32.

THIRD QUARTER –
In the third quarter, Winona State hit back-to-back baskets to take an early 37-36 lead, but UMC answered with a Miller three. Miller and Jenkins hit a pair of jumpers to make it 44-40, with UMC back in the lead. UMC’s lead went up to 52-45, with Dudycha and Hernandez each draining a three. UMC would get a layup from Miller, but Winona State cut the UMC lead to 54-50 after three. 

FOURTH QUARTER –
In the fourth quarter, Winona State would go on an 8-2 run to go up 58-56. UMC tied it on a Janie Tormanen (Soph Menahga, MN) layup, but Winona State answered with a three to go up 61-58. Jenkins and Tormanen each hit baskets for UMC to go up 62-61. Winona State countered with a layup to go up 63-62. UMC called a timeout but turned it over before Winona State missed a pair of field goals but got the offensive rebound and made their third try on a turnaround jumper in the lane to go up 65-62. The Golden Eagles couldn’t connect on their offensive possession and fouled the Warriors. Winona State made both free throws, and UMC turned it over again out of another timeout. Winona State hit three more free throws to put the game out of reach and win 70-62. 

UMC falls to 9-19 overall and 6-16 in the NSIC. Minot State took down the University of Sioux Falls after making a layup with two seconds left to eliminate UMC from postseason play. Winona State improves to 10-17 and 9-13 in the NSIC and will go against MSU Moorhead in the First Round of the NSIC Tournament.