The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Women’s Basketball team’s defensive struggles continued on Friday afternoon, as they lost to the Northern Michigan Wildcats 85-69.
FIRST QUARTER –
Northern Michigan dominated the start of the game as they went on a 12-2 run in the first four minutes of the quarter. UMC stopped the run with a Taryn Frazer (Jr. Cass Lake) three-pointer. NMU responded with five straight points to take a 17-5 lead before UMC’s Rayna Klejeski buried a three-pointer to get within a 17-8 deficit. NMU, as they did all game long, answered with a pair of three-pointers for a 23-8 lead with 2:21 remaining.
UMC was able to close the deficit at the end of the quarter with a Hope Dudycha three-pointer to get within a 26-15 deficit.
SECOND QUARTER-
The second quarter saw four three-pointers in the first two minutes as NMU made three of them and built a 35-18 lead. The Wildcats continued to impose their will as they took a 43-22 lead with 4:20 remaining in the half before UMC’s Emma Miller made a jump shot, Riley Jenkins made a basket, Willow Thiel added a layup, and the Golden Eagles were within a 43-28 deficit with 2:11 left in the half. NMU responded with a three-pointer, but the Golden Eagle’s Miller ended the half on a 6-3 run to get her team within a 49-34 deficit.
THIRD QUARTER –
UMC’s Miller continued to have the hot hand in the second half as she started with a three-pointer and a layup to bring the Golden Eagles within a 49-39 deficit. NMU answered with a basket before UMC’s Willow Thiel (Fresh. Perham) made two free throws, and Nicole Hernandez scored in the paint. Thiel added a layup, and Olivia Walsh made a jump shot to cap an 8-0 run to get within a 51-47 deficit. NMU ended the quarter on a 10-5 run and took a 61-52 lead into the fourth quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER –
NMU started the final quarter with a basket before UMC’s Frazer made another three-pointer. The teams exchanged baskets over several minutes and after a Thiel basket, the Golden Eagles trailed 67-60 with 5:48 remaining. NMU broke the game back open when they went on an 8-0 run for a 75-60 lead with 3:27 remaining. UMC wasn’t able to recover and NMU won the game 85-69.
UMC drops to 0-3 on the year and is giving up an average of 92 points per game through the first three games. They will take on Michigan Tech on Saturday afternoon. Northern Michigan improves to 3-0 on the year.
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| UM-Crookston | 15 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 69 |
| Northern Michigan | 26 | 23 | 12 | 24 | 85 |
| For UMC | Points | Rebounds | Assists/Steals |
| Emma Miller | 26 | 4 | 3 assists/2 steals |
| Taryn Frazer | 9 | 2 | 1 assist |
| Willow Thiel | 8 | 6 | |
| Hope Dudycha | 7 | 2 | 2 assists |
| Riley Jenkins | 2 | 5 | 6 assists/2 steals |
| Nicole Hernandez | 2 | 8 | 4 blocks/2 assist/2 steals |
| Olivia Walsh | 2 |
