Box Score
Records

Minnesota Crookston (5-6, 2-5 NSIC) || Upper Iowa (4-7, 3-4 NSIC)

Recap

The Golden Eagles poured in 47 points in the second half of Friday's NSIC cross-division battle to pull away with an 80-69 victory in Crookston, Minnesota. The home team was led by three players in double figures including 30 points from Katrina Moenkedick, but it was the UMC defense that provided the spark causing 23 UIU turnovers on the night.

The home team jumped out to an early lead, but Upper Iowa evened the score at 9-9 six minutes in thanks to a 7-2 run fueled by five quick pionts from Whitney Kieffer. The game remained tight through the eight minute mark, 17-17, as both teams continued to slowly grind out points. UIU jumped out to their largest lead of the first half, 22-17, after #Lauren Buck hit a lay up and knocked down a three-pointer. However, the Golden Eagles rallied to knot the score again moments later. In total, the score was tied six times in the first half with the last one coming with three minutes to play. A lay-up by Olivia Winkler gave UIU a brief 32-31 lead, but Moenkedick knocked in a jumper to give the home team the one-point advantage at the break, 33-32.

In the second half, the teams continued to play even through the first five and a half minutes still tied at 42-42. The Golden Eagles used the next three minutes to separate themselves with their largest lead of the night. UMC took a 53-42 lead thanks to an 11-0 run fueled by four UIU turnovers. The Peacocks cut the lead to four points, 58-54, after a pair of buckets from Winkler with just over seven minutes to play.

An old-fashioned three-point play by Kieffer and a three-pointer from Lindsay Carroll brought the Peacocks within two, 62-60, with just under five minutes to play. The Golden Eagles put their foot down on the pedal over the next two minutes though taking a 72-62 lead thanks to a 10-2 run highlighted by a pair of three-pointers. UIU got within seven points twice, but never closed the gap any closer over the final minutes.

Upper Iowa shot 47% (16-34) in the second half, but Minnesota Crookston scorched the nets at a clip of more than 61% (16-26). The Golden Eagles also converted 12 of 15 free throws, while the Peacocks only got to the line 5 times making 3 of them.

Lauren Buck recorded her second double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

UIU Standouts

Kieffer... 20 pts, 8 reb., 3 assists, 3 steals | Buck... 11 pts, 11 reb., 4 steals | Thrapp... 11 pts, 5 assists, 4 reb. | Carroll... 9 pts, 3 assists | Winkler... 8 pts

Next Up

The Peacocks will take the floor on Saturday at 4 p.m. in Bemidji, Minn. Upper Iowa will take on the Beavers of Bemidji State University in another NSIC cross-division contest.