UMC Women’s Basketball Edges NW Missouri State

The University of Minnesota Crookston women’s basketball team outscored Northwest Missouri State University 26-14 in the fourth quarter to earn a come from behind 79-71 victory in Wayne, Nebraska.
The Golden Eagles got out of the gate Saturday with a 5-2 lead following a Post bucket. The Bearcats came back and tied it up 7-7 on a Dentlinger basket. Minnesota Crookston countered with a crucial 8-0 run ignited by a Weakley triple and an old-fashioned three-point play from Post to extend the advantage to 15-7. The Bearcats came back and dwindled the lead down to 15-11 with an Eaton jumper and a pair of Maiava free throws. The Golden Eagles staved off Northwest Missouri State using a 6-2 run propelled by four points from Michaelis to make it 21-13.
The Bearcats made a charge using seven points from Eaton to cut the deficit to 21-20 with 1:38 remaining. The Golden Eagles ended the first frame with a Michaelis jumper to lead 25-23 going into the break.
Northwest Missouri State got off to a strong start with a Mallory McConkey old-fashioned three-point play to put the Bearcats up 26-25. Minnesota Crookston took the lead back 28-26 on a Post triple.
The Bearcats overcame the Golden Eagles late in the second quarter as a Dentlinger bucket tipped the scales in favor of Northwest Missouri State 35-34 going into the break.
Weakley put the Golden Eagles back ahead with a bucket to make it 36-35. The Bearcats responded with a 7-0 run ignited by Haggard as they took a 42-36 lead with 7:55 remaining in the third quarter.
Minnesota Crookston put a pause to the run as Odor hit a bucket to cut the lead to 42-38. Northwest Missouri State came right back with a 6-2 run as they pushed out to a 48-40 advantage with a basket from Eaton.
A three-pointer from Guidinger helped the Golden Eagles cut the deficit to 48-44 with 5:10 remaining in the third quarter.
Northwest Missouri State responded with a 5-0 run propelled by an Erika Schlosser three-pointer as the Bearcats led 53-44.
The Golden Eagles ended the third quarter on a 7-2 run as they were able to slice into Northwest Missouri State’s lead down the stretch. They cut the lead to 57-53 following an Odor old-fashioned three-point play to end the frame.
UMC picked up where they left off as they entered the fourth quarter. The Golden Eagles opened the stanza with a 5-0 run lifted by three points from Michaelis for a 58-57 lead.
A while later, a three-pointer from Weakley pushed the lead back out to 69-66. Northwest Missouri State would come within 71-70 on a Mallory McAndrews jumper.
That is as close as it would get as Minnesota Crookston closed the game on an 8-1 run down the stretch to take the 79-71 win. The late run was ignited by senior captain Michaelis, who accounted for six points to lift the Golden Eagles to their second win of the season.
UMC improves to 2-0 on the year and will host Valley City State University on Tuesday, November 13 at 6:00 p.m. at Lysaker Gymnasium. Northwest Missouri State drops to 0-2 on the year.