CROOKSTON, Minn. – In a rather topsy-turvy affair, MSU Moorhead women's basketball could not come up with enough offense to defeat Minnesota Crookston. The home team narrowly defeated the Dragons 72-67.
Hot shooting would help MSUM build a 13-7 lead in the first quarter as
Maya Metcalf,
Ashley Fritz and
Abby Berge would all net three-pointers. While the long distance shots were helpful, it was MSUM's defense that was stingy in the early moments, forcing the Golden Eagles to just three of 10 shooting.
Terryn Johnson made a pair of turnaround baskets in the same run for the Dragons.
Johnson would score eight points and grab eight rebounds in the quarter as the Dragons led 17-9 through one. MSUM would hold Minnesota Crookston to just four of 15 from the floor through 10 minutes while outrebounding the Golden Eagles 15-8. The Dragons would keep the pace to begin the second quarter as Johnson, Fritz and
Natalie Jens would all score to push the score to 23-11.
The Golden Eagles would hit back-to-back threes to trim the MSUM lead to six points. That run would be semi-short lived as
Ashley Fritz would make her second three of the game to put the score at 27-17. Minnesota Crookston would hit another pair of three-pointers to pull within three points as halftime neared. The Dragons would respond in the final two minutes of the half as Berge would score on a turnaround score.
To close the half,
Olivia Skibiel hit back-to-back three-pointers including one as time expired. At the break, MSUM led 37-29 as the Dragons made six of 14 three-point attempts while continuing to own the glass. MSUM hauled in 27 rebounds through 20 minutes to Minnesota Crookston's 18.
MSUM would fall victim to an 11-2 Golden Eagle run to open the second half as the home team took command of the scoreboard, 40-39. The game would slow down from there as Minnesota Crookston led 45-43 following a basket from
Natalie Jens. MSUM shot three of 10 through the first seven minutes of the frame to UMC's seven of 13 clip. While Crookston would claim a 54-47 lead with five seconds left in the quarter, Johnson would score before the buzzer to put the count at 54-49.
Karlee Fisher would bring the Dragons back into the game following a tough third frame. The true freshman would convert an and-one, followed by a steal and score to cut the Golden Eagle lead to two points. Fisher would grab another steal as the Dragons imposed their patented fullcourt press. The takeaway would help move MSUM to within one point, 56-55.
Natalie Jens would give the Dragons the lead once more, scoring four straight points with just over five minutes to play.
Jens continued to will MSUM on offense as time ticked away, driving through the lane and scoring on some difficult shot attempts. This, coupled with several offensive rebounds and steals, helped the Dragons create a 62-56 lead with three minutes remaining. Minnesota Crookston would have the score at 64-61 following their 10
th three-pointer of the game with just over 90 seconds left.
The Golden Eagles would have the score to within two points before the home team would net a three-pointer to give them a 66-65 lead. MSUM would be unable to answer as the Dragons would miss a pair of triples which would have tied the game down the stretch. From there, Minnesota Crookston would hit the necessary free throws to win 72-67.
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Up Next
MSUM (2-8, 2-3 NSIC) returns to action on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. tilt from the MSU Dome against Minot State.
