WOLVES UPSET AT CROOKSTON

Feb. 8, 2002

Northern State controlled the first half but cracked in the second, allowing Minnesota-Crookston to come up with another Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference upset.

The Golden Eagles outscored NSU 38-22 in the second half to come up with a 72-66 win Friday night in Crookston. Last weekend, UMC knocked off NSIC title contender Minnesota-Duluth.

Northern held a 44-34 lead at the first half and had forced UMC star Jessica Forsline to the bench with three fouls. But Forsline, who leads the league in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage and blocks, came back strong in the second half to lead UMC's comeback charge. After scoring just four points in the first half, Forsline ended with a game-high 19 to go with 10 rebounds.

UMC chipped away at Northern's halftime buldge, took the lead with about 10 minutes remaining, and never trailed again. Northern made runs to cut the lead to one point at 7:49 and three points at 2:17, but couldn't regain the lead.

NSU was led by sophomore shooting guard Carin Rambow (Litchfield, Minn.), who scored 13 points. Junior forward Shana Theobald (Brookings) was NSU's other double-digit scorer with 12 points. Freshman post Natalie Hopkins (St. Louis Park, Minn.) pulled down 10 rebounds to go with nine points.

Northern's loss wasn't as critical as it could have been in the conference standings, however. League-leading Concordia-St. Paul lost at Wayne State Friday, leaving the Wolves still one game out of first place. NSU will travel to Minnesota State-Moorhead Saturday.