Box Score MARSHALL, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team made a late charge but Southwest Minnesota State University fended off the charge to win 63-55 Friday, January 21 at the R/A Facility in Marshall, Minn. The Golden Eagles came within six points with under a minute left in the game, but they were unable to pick up the victory. Minnesota Crookston outscored Southwest Minnesota State 34-26 in the second half, however a 17-point Mustang lead at the half was ultimately too much to overcome.

Minnesota Crookston dropped to 1-15 (0-10 NSIC) with Friday's loss to the Mustangs. Southwest Minnesota State improved to 9-6 (6-5 NSIC) with the victory.

The Golden Eagles were guided by Kylie Post (Sr., G, Corcoran, Minn.) with 13 points on 5-of-15 from the field. Mary Burke (Sr., F, Virginia, Minn.) added 12 points on 4-of-10 from the field, and 3-of-7 from beyond the arc. Abi Fraaza (Fr., F, Birnamwood, Wis.) chipped in 12 points and eight boards. Bren Fox (R-Jr., F/C, Norwood Young America, Minn.) finished with eight points and five rebounds. Emma Carpenter (Jr., G, Eagan, Minn.) finished with five assists.

Southwest Minnesota State was propelled by 25 points and seven boards from Sadie Stelter. Meleah Reinhart added 20 points. Erin Baxter chipped in with five points.

UMN Crookston shot 19-of-58 from the field for 32.8 percent. They were 4-of-19 from beyond the arc, and 13-of-16 for 81.3 percent from the foul line.

Southwest Minnesota State went 24-of-57 from the field for 42.1 percent. The Mustangs went 6-of-22 from behind the three-point line, and went 9-of-11 from the foul stripe.


Southwest Minnesota State jumped out to a 4-0 lead after a pair of free throws from Stelter. The Golden Eagles knotted the game up 4-4 in the first quarter following a jumper from Fox. Minnesota Crookston moved into an 8-6 advantage after a Post basket. Southwest Minnesota State closed the first quarter on a 12-0 run propelled by six points from Reinhart as they went into the quarter with an 18-8 lead.

Minnesota Crookston closed to within 19-10 at the 6:34 mark of the second quarter with a Burke jumper. The Mustangs pushed out to a 24-10 advantage as Jenna Borchers drained a trey with 5:22 left in the quarter. Southwest Minnesota State widened the gap to 31-13 following a Madison Gehloff three-pointer with 1:53 remaining in the quarter. The Mustangs took a 36-19 advantage into the locker room.

Minnesota Crookston pulled within 14 (38-24) following a trey from Burke with 8:30 left in the third quarter. The Golden Eagles trimmed the deficit to 40-29 after an old-fashioned three-point play and a lay-up from Fraaza with 6:47 remaining in the third stanza. The Mustangs responded with an 8-0 run as a Reinhart jumper put SMSU ahead 48-29 with 4:38 left in the frame. The Golden Eagles used free throws from Fox and Post to trim the deficit to 50-35 with 2:15 remaining in the quarter. Following a Stelter turnover, Fox made a bucket on the other end to bring the Golden Eagles within 50-37. Southwest Minnesota State fended off the charge with a Reinhart triple with 1:44 remaining in the stanza. The Golden Eagles ended the quarter on a 4-0 run led by free throws from Abigail Leach (Jr., G/F, Wyoming, Minn.) and a Fraaza jumper as they went into the quarter break trailing 53-41.

The Mustangs opened the fourth quarter with a trey from Baxter to widen the gap to 56-41 with 9:33 left in the game. Minnesota Crookston responded with a 4-0 run as a basket from Leach pulled the Golden Eagles within 56-45 with 7:50 left in the tilt. After over four minutes of scoreless action from both sides, Fraaza converted an old-fashioned three-point play to pull the Golden Eagles within 56-48 with 3:31 left in the game. Stelter scored on a put-back layup to give the Mustangs a 58-48 lead with 2:01 remaining. A Post lay-in with 32 seconds remaining, brought UMN Crookston within 58-50. Stelter hit 1-of-2 from the foul line to push the Mustang lead to 59-50 with 28 seconds remaining. Burke then drained a triple to bring the Golden Eagles within 59-53. Reinhart iced the game by hitting a pair of free throws to give Southwest Minnesota State a 61-53 advantage with 21 seconds left in the tilt. The Mustangs held on for the 63-55 win.

Minnesota Crookston returns to action Saturday, January 22 at 3:30 p.m. against the University of Sioux Falls.