>Box Score

CROOKSTON, Minn. – Minnesota Crookston went on a late 18-4 run to doom Southwest Minnesota State, 78-54 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference women's basketball Saturday.

SMSU (3-19, 3-15 NSIC) finished shooting 37 percent (23 for 61) from the floor while shooting only 3 for 6 from the free throw line. Annessa Rosch led the Mustangs scoring 15 points while grabbing four rebounds. Lauren Hedlund contributed 12 points-all in the first half-while pulling down a team-high six rebounds. Ellen Degler made her mark as the senior tallied five rebounds and a pair of steals. Hope Bonlander found the stat sheet with 11 points.

UMC (11-11, 10-8 NSIC) had three players recorded double-doubles in the game, led by Emily Gruber with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Alexa Thielman cashed in 13 points while pulling down a team-high 12 rebounds and Katrina Moenkedick also tallied 10 points and 11 rebounds. Ebony Livingston contributed 13 points while Micaela Noga scored 11 points with three 3-pointers. The Golden Eagles finished shot 36 percent (29 for 79) and handled the boards as they held a 54-35 advantage with a 25-10 advantage in offensive rebounds.

Minnesota Crookston took the lead to start the game but a pair of jumpers by Rosch tied the game up at 6-6 with 14:49 in the half. Both teams fought to take the lead over the next five minutes but the Mustangs found the lead after going on an 8-0 run to lead 25-16 with 7:52 left in the first.

The Mustangs led by five with four minutes left but the Golden Eagles wouldn't back down as they controlled the last minutes of the half. UMC went on a 15-4 run to close out the first and to lead 38-30 at halftime.

Livingston and Noga were the show in the last four minutes as they combined for 13 of the 15 points.

Hedlund led the Mustangs with 12 points including grabbing five boards in the half. Rosch contributed nine points while Degler pulled down four boards.

The Golden Eagles wouldn't stop in the second, as they continued to dominate and push its lead to 14 with 18:09 left.

Rosch would cash back-to-back 3-pointers to pull the Mustangs back to just six with 16:54 left and Bonlander would also fight to cut the deficit as she scored a jumper and free throw two minutes later to put the Mustangs down by just five.

The Golden Eagles would again gain momentum and go on a big 18-4 run to increase its lead to 21 with 5:08 to play.

UMC pushed its lead to the largest of the game with 21 seconds left to play as the Golden Eagles led, 78-51. Minnesota Crookston would hold the lead down the stretch and defeat SMSU, 78-54

Southwest Minnesota State will continue on its road trip as the Mustangs travel to Sioux Falls, S.D., to take on Augustana on Friday night before playing at Wayne State on Saturday.