The road has not been kind to the Golden Eagles this season as they are 1-8, including four straight losses over the past two weekends. The most recent pair of defeats came Friday in a 76-68 loss to Minnesota State in Mankato, Minn. and Saturday in a 93-67 loss to Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall, Minn.
Minnesota, Crookston is now 8-13 overall and 6-9 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. In the standings, it sits tied for tenth with Bemidji State.
UMC @ Minnesota State
The Golden Eagles and Mavericks battled back and forth throughout the first half with 12 lead changes. Minnesota, Crookston held its largest lead of the game with 9:47 left in the half when Jamie Zelinsky knocked down a three to give her team a four-point lead at 20-16.
The Mavericks answered immediately with a three that sparked a 6-0 run to take back the lead, which they would not give back the rest of the game.
Minnesota State led by ten with 1:20 left in the first half when the U of M, Crookston scored the final six points of the half to cut the deficit to just four heading into the locker rooms at 38-34.
The Mavericks put the Golden Eagles away in the second half by shooting 48 percent from the field and 50 percent from beyond the arch. They led by as much as 19 with 9:18 left.
Brittani Wiese led Minnesota, Crookston with 22 points, while Zelinsky added 15 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Kelsey Van Ackeren recorded 11 points and Bri Zabel finished with ten.
Liz Trauger led the Mavericks with 28 points, while Lauren Barber added 20.
UMC @ SW Minnesota State
The Golden Eagles trailed by just two points three minutes into the game when Southwest Minnesota State went on a 15-3 run to go up 25-11 with about 12 minutes left in the first half.
The Mustangs hung on to the double digit lead and even led by as much as 19 points with about four minutes left before heading to the locker room up 45-31.
Southwest Minnesota State continued to increase its lead in the second half and led by as much as 34 with 7:19 left to play before winning by 26.
Zelinsky led Minnesota, Crookston with 16 points and seven rebounds. Zabel finished with 13 points, while Diana Taddy recorded 12.
Tori Fink led the Mustangs with 21 points, while Abby Kenealy finished with 19.
The Golden Eagles will look to get back on the winning track next weekend at home where they are 6-3 this season. On Friday, Feb. 12, they will host Minnesota Duluth at 6 p.m. On Saturday, Feb. 13, they will host Bemidji State at 4 p.m.
Zelinsky will be recognized following Friday's game for reaching 1,000 career points.
Friday's game will also be "Pink Zone" Hawaiian Night. Saturday's game will feature the Champions Forever Spin-tacular Basketball show.
