UMC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL COMPLETES WEEKEND SWEEP WITH WIN OVER MINNESOTA STATE MOORHEAD

The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) Golden Eagles Women’s Basketball team traveled to Moorhead on Sunday for an NSIC conference matchup against the University of Minnesota State Moorhead. UMC was able to build a big lead early thanks to stifling defense and fended off the Dragons second-half comeback attempt thanks to clutch free throws, for a 68-60 victory, completing a weekend sweep, and earning the Golden Eagles their third straight NSIC victory.

FIRST-QUARTER –

Neither team could get an early lead until a Mary Burke (Sr. Virginia, Minn.) three, and Kylie Post (Sr. Corcoran, Minn.) jumper, made it 11-6 UMC with 6:10 to play in the opening quarter. After another three from Burke, and one from Abi Leach (Jr. Wyoming, Minn.) as well, UMC had opened a 17-8 lead on the Dragons. After a Minnesota State Moorhead layup, Emma Carpenter (Jr. Eagan, Minn.) got in on the fun splashing in a three, and UMC would take a 20-10 lead into the second quarter thanks to four made threes.

SECOND-QUARTER –

The Golden Eagles would score the first five points of the second quarter, on a Burke three, and Carpenter jumper, giving themselves their largest lead of the game at 25-10. The Dragons would counter with a mini-scoring run to cut the UMC lead to 27-15, but the Golden Eagles would explode for a 9-2 run to take a commanding 36-17 lead with 2:49 until halftime. The run was highlighted with scores from Post, Bren Fox (Jr. Norwood Young America, Minn.), Jes Mertens (So. Devils Lake, N.D.), and 3 free throws from Abi Fraaza (Fr. Birnamwood, Wis.). The teams traded a few baskets the remainder of the quarter, and after a Fox jumper at the buzzer, UMC would take a 41-19 lead into the locker room.

THIRD-QUARTER –

The Dragons found their groove offensively in the third quarter and outscored the Golden Eagles 27-12 to cut the deficit to 7 points before the fourth quarter. UMC initially extended the lead to 45-21 before the Dragons would go on a 19-2 scoring run while hitting five three-pointers. Fox finally got UMC back on the board with a layup making it 49-40 UMC with 2:51 remaining in the contest. Fox and Post would each get one more layup in the period, but the Dragons countered with a few of their own, and the score would be 53-46 UMC heading into the final quarter.

FOURTH-QUARTER –

The Dragons cut the deficit all the way down to 53-51 after scoring the first five points of the quarter, but a Post layup with 6:34 remaining in the game made it 55-51 Golden Eagles. After a quick stop, Fraaza answered with a layup of her own, and shortly after Fox knocked down a jump shot, and just like that the lead was back to eight points at 59-51 with 5:19 to play. Once again, the Dragons refused to go away, scoring five straight points capped off by an and-one to make it a one-possession game at 59-56 with 2:51 remaining. It never got closer the rest of the game, as UMC would knock down nine clutch free throws and hold the Dragons to just 4 points in the final 2:51 for a 63-56 victory, giving the Golden Eagles their third NSIC win of the season.

For UMC, they are now 4-17 overall and 3-12 in the NSIC but have won three straight games. They will try to keep their win streak rolling this coming Thursday when they visit the University of St. Cloud State. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Minnesota State Moorhead drops to 7-13 overall and 6-10 in the NSIC with the loss.