UMC Golden Eagle News Archive:
June 6, 2006 - July 1, 2009

(Fayette, Iowa)- The eight hour bus ride home from Fayette, Iowa won’t seem so long tonight as the University of Minnesota, Crookston women’s basketball team earned its first NSIC victory of the season over Upper Iowa University 80-70. The NSIC victory is the team’s first since defeating Bemidji State University on January 28, 2006.

The Golden Eagles and the Peacocks played neck-and-neck through the first 20 minutes of play. The teams were tied at 27 when Upper Iowa went on a 15 to 8 run in the final five minutes to take a 42-35 halftime lead. UIU shot 50 percent from the field and a solid 62 percent from long range to assist in the first half lead. The shooting percentage of the Peacocks didn’t affect UMC’s Jamie Zelinsky (Fr, G, Brooklyn Park, Minn.) as she led all scorers in the half with 12 points. She added three assists, one block and one steal in the half as well. Sara Best led UIU with 11 points in the half.

The Golden Eagles shook off the “bus legs” in the second half to shoot 52 percent from the field and outplay the Peacocks to a tune of 45-28. In the final session, four more Minnesota, Crookston players would enter double-digits in points. Jamie Zelinsky and Katie Cheline (So, F, Mondovi, Wis.) added 10 points each with Zelinsky finishing with 22 points and Cheline finishing with her second double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Ana Garcia (Fr, G, Minnetonka, Minn.) added 12 points and five assists while Diana Taddy (Fr, G, Two Rivers, Wis.) and Jessica Biddle (Jr, C, Elburn, Ill.) each contributed 11 points. The Peacocks would eventually shoot themselves in the foot going 8-20 from the free-throw line to close out the game. Britney Iredale scored 10 points in the half to lead the Peacocks with 18 points in the game.

Tonight’s big NSIC victory brings the Golden Eagles to 5-13 overall and 1-8 in NSIC play. Upper Iowa drops to 4-17 overall and 0-9 in NSIC play.  The Golden Eagles are back on the road next weekend as the team travels to SW Minnesota State on Friday, January 25 and Wayne State (NE) on Saturday, January 26. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. on both nights. Those games will be carried on KROX- 1260 AM (http://www.umcrookston.edu/people/services/MediaServ/stream.htm).

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at: www.goldeneaglesports.com  

The University of Minnesota, Crookston is a NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Golden Eagle Hockey is a member of the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association (MCHA). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).