CROOKSTON, MN – Despite strong performances from Lexie Schneider and Lauren Rotunda, the visiting University of Mary women's basketball team fell short to the University of Minnesota Crookston, losing 73-65 and splitting the season series.

The game went back and forth in the first quarter as the Marauders earned a 14-13 lead over the Golden Eagles. UMC took control in the second quarter and grabbed a 36-31 lead going into halftime.

The Marauders struggled in the third as the Golden Eagles extended their lead to 56-45 going into the fourth. UMary rallied in the fourth quarter, cutting the UMC lead down to 67-64 with 1:58 left in the game.

Senior guard Macy Williams had a three-pointer fall short at the 1:02 mark that would have tied the game. The Golden Eagles then hit six straight free throws in the final 45 seconds to take home the 73-65 victory.

Schneider led the team in points and rebounds, scoring 21 and grabbing 13 boards. Schneider shot 9-of-14 from the field and recorded five offensive rebounds. It was her second straight double double after posting 20 points and 11 rebounds in UMary's win on Friday.

Rotunda registered 16 points and added seven rebounds and two assists.

Williams scored 12 points and a team-high five assists. Senior guard Coral Gillette had six points off the bench for UMary, shooting 50% from the field.

Mary Burke and Jes Mertens led the Golden Eagles in scoring as both had 17.

UMary won the rebounding battle over UMC 36-27. The Marauders struggled with turnovers as they gave the ball away 17 times, whereas the Golden Eagles turned it over 14 times.

The Marauders shot 41.4% from the field, shooting 33.3% from three and going 11-of-16 from the charity stripe. The Golden Eagles shot 46.9% from the field, shooting 57.16% from behind the arc and going 19-of-23 from the free-throw line.

UMary (2-6, 2-4 in the NSIC) will travel on the road next to play Northern State University (2-5, 1-4 in the NSIC) on Friday, February 5, at 7:00 pm.

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