Box Score Box Score

ABERDEEN, S.D. – A school record for Minnesota, Crookston did not work in favor of the Northern State Wolves (9-5, 5-4 NSIC) as the visiting Golden Eagles (7-5, 4-4 NSIC) forced 20 turnovers and made 14-19 three point baskets, a school record, enroute to a 77-60 Golden Eagle victory.

Megan Eul got the Golden Eagles on the scoreboard first by hitting a three point basket from the top of the key.
Sarah Hintz, the NSIC field goal percentage leader, countered with a shot of her own to bring the score to 3-2. The Wolves would take the lead on a Jenna Higgins hook shot after a pair of turnovers from each team.
After a second Higgins hook shot, the Golden Eagles went on a 10-0 run, thanks to Brittani Wiese who had eight of those ten points including two threes.

Sadie Stotesbery hit a basket just above the free throw line to stop the run from the Golden Eagles.
However, the run would continue as the Golden Eagles would turn Wolves turnovers into three point baskets, hitting six of seven from long range in the first ten minutes of action.
Coming out of the media time out in the first half, the Wolves would nibble at the Golden Eagle lead, pulling to within 14 at the 7:03 mark in the first half.

The Golden Eagles took flight once again, hitting their next three long range attempts.

A fall away three from Becken, brought the Wolves within 10 points with under 30 seconds remaining.

After Eul nailed a pair of free throws for UMC, Hintz would find a cutting Becken to the basket as she would snag the lay up with just seconds remaining in the first half, to bring the first half score to 41-31 in favor of the Golden Eagles.

At the half, the Wolves had 14 turnovers, which the Golden Eagles turned into 23 of their 41 points. The Golden Eagles were also on fire from long range, making 9-11 from downtown.

Minnesota, Crookston stayed hot coming out of the break, hitting their first two shots of the second half, including another trey, eventually building the ten point halftime lead back up to 18 points at 16:49.

The 18 point advantage would hold until the Wolves hit their first shot of the second half at the 15:16 mark, when Stotesbery hit a jumper.

Following a pair of Becken free throws, the Wolves ensued on a mini 8-0 run which included a Brittany Euerle jumper. Euerle was seeing her first action since December 3, when she was injured in the game at St. Cloud.

The 51-41 margin would not last long, as the Golden Eagles once again went on a run, this time a 14-4 run which took the Golden Eagle lead, their biggest of the game, to 20 points at 65-45.

After the 20 point lead, the Wolves went on a 11-2 run of their own, bringing the score to 67-56 with 4:13 remaining in the game. Mikayla

Barndeau, playing most of the second half with four fouls, hit two free throws to bring the Wolves within the 11 point margin.

That would be the closest the Wolves would get as Megan Eul of Crookston let go of her third three of the night, to stop the run the Wolves had cooking.

The Wolves finished with three players in double figures with Emily Becken leading with 16 points. Freshman Sadie Stotesbery had 11 while Barondeau chipped in ten.

The Golden Eagles also paced three in double figures, lead by a game high from Brittani Wiese at 19 points.

The Wolves did win the battle of the boards with 47 rebounds while the Golden Eagles had 33. The difference on the boards was 19 offensive rebounds for the Wolves compared to just eight for the UMC.

The Wolves return home tomorrow afternoon, for a matinee with Minnesota State Moorhead in a 2 p.m. matchup at Wachs Arena.