(CROOKSTON, MINN.) – The Minot State women's basketball team lost at Minnesota Crookston this afternoon by a score of 78-76. Both teams were evenly matched as the Golden Eagles used their home court advantage to narrowly edge out the Beavers.
From the jump, Minnesota Crookston was attacking on offense as they were looking for their first win in eight games. The Golden Eagles started the first quarter on a 12-4 run and seemed poised for runaway victory. Minot State, however, countered in the first period with a 10-2 run of their own to end the frame.
The second and third quarters were just as thrilling as the Beavers outscored UMC 20-19 in the second and 16-15 in the third. Minnesota Crookston led by just one after three full quarters of play.
The fourth quarter remained competitive as each team went back-and-forth down the stretch. With just under three minutes to play,
Mariah Payne was nails on a three-ball that seemed to be the end of UMC's chances. The Golden Eagles thought otherwise and made another run that eventually sealed the hard-fought victory.
The Beavers leaned on leading scorer
Mariah Payne to carry the offense and she did just that by pouring in 31 points on 53% shooting while also adding seven rebounds. Two other MSU players,
Bethany Theodore and
Calli Delsman, also finished in double-figures with 15 points and 11 points, respectively.
Anna Counts led the way on the glass with 10 boards as Minot State out-rebounded the Golden Eagles 46-31. Delsman also chipped in nine rebounds of her own and led the Beavers in assists with four.
Minnesota Crookston had four played score more than ten points including Mary Burke with a season-high 20 points. Mattea Vetsch added 18 while Abby Guidinger scored 13 and Emma Carpenter 11. Center Julia Peplinski led UMC with eight rebounds while Guidinger was tops in assists with four.
Minot State now sits at 4-13 overall and 1-12 in conference play. The Beavers will be on the road again next weekend when they visit Augustana on Friday, Jan. 31 at 5:30 p.m and Wayne State on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 3:30 p.m.
