The University of Minnesota Duluth almost pulled off an improbable comeback against the University of Minnesota Crookston. The Bulldogs trailed by 19 points early in the second quarter as the Golden Eagles built a 29-10 lead a few minutes into the quarter. The first 12 minutes between the two Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference clubs had all the features of a blowout rout. UMD wouldn't let that happen as it erased the big deficit and grabbed the lead briefly before Minnesota Crookston made enough plays at the end of the game to hold off the Bulldogs 66-61.

The Golden Eagles, who are 3-34 lifetime in the series, snapped UMD's four-game NSIC winning streak with the five-point win. Minnesota Crookston closed the gap in the division race and improved to 9-5 and 4-4 in conference play. The Bulldogs fell to 7-4 overall and dropped only their second NSIC game of the year. 

Sophomore guard Ann Simonet and freshman forward Brooke Olson each had 10 points for UMD and Isieoma Odor had 21 points for the Golden Eagles to lead their respective teams. For Simonet, she recorded a season high as she shot 4-for-9 from the field and knocked down both of her free throw attempts. Simonet also registered six assists, tying a career high, and her third collegiate block. Olson came up one board shy of her second career double-double. Senior guard Sammy Kozlowski gathered five steals tonight, her second five-steal night of the season. 

Minnesota Crookston scored 26 points against UMD in the opening quarter, the most allowed by the Bulldogs this season. The Golden Eagles shot 47 percent and the Bulldogs shot 19 percent as Minnesota Crookston opened up to a 26-10 advantage after the first. Caitlin Michaelis' three pointer to open the second-quarter scoring put the Golden Eagles up by 19. UMD dug in and chipped away at the lead to go into the halftime break down 38-32. The Bulldogs closed the first half on a 9-3 run and shot 50 percent in the quarter.

Senior forward Emma Boehm nailed a three-pointer and followed up with a layup to start the third and UMD trailed by one at 38-37.  Kylie Post and Paige Weakley each hit on three-pointers for Minnesota Crookston to fend off the Bulldogs for a while. UMD finally tied the game at 44-44 on a deep triple by Kozlowski. The Bulldogs would have to wait until the fourth quarter to capture their first lead of the night. Boehm found an open Olson for an easy layup to give UMD a 56-55 advantage with 3:51 left to play. The Bulldogs would extend it to three points on a pair of free throws by freshman guard Maesyn Thiesen. 

The Golden Eagles fought back by connecting from the free throw line. They went 1-of-7 in the third but responded in the fourth with a 10-for-13 effort from the charity stripe. Minnesota Crookston used the line to get the game tied and Michaelis buried a three from the wing to give the Golden Eagles a three-point lead with 1:17 left. UMD went cold in the final minute as it fell short of the comeback.

Next up for the Bulldogs will be the University of Mary at Romano Gymnasium on Jan. 11.