GRAND FORKS, N.D. (UND Athletics)– The University of North Dakota flew past the St. Thomas Tommies for a 74-61 win on Thursday evening at the Betty.
North Dakota shot 44.8 percent from the field, 40.0 percent from the three-point line, and 85.7 percent from the free-throw line. Comparatively, the Tommies shot 36.5 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from the three, and 47.1 percent from the line.
Captain Claire Orth led the Fighting Hawks with a new single game career high of 23 points. She secured seven rebounds.
Kacie Borowicz netted 19 points, had six rebounds, had six assists, and secured one steal.
DJ Davis was the third Hawk to end in double figures with 13 points, three rebounds, and one assist.
Olivia Lane was the fourth and final Fighting Hawk to end in double figures. She secured another double-double with 12 points, ten rebounds, and two blocks.
Rounding out the scoring was Melissa Leet with seven points, four rebounds, and two blocks.
The Tommies took the lead early in the first with a three from Kaia Porter, but Lane responded with a layup on the next possession. St. Thomas continued to stay in the lead until Orth converted two free-throws to give the Fighting Hawks a 6-5 lead with 6:39 left to play in the first. Borowicz hit a three to extend the lead to three, but the Tommies kept it within one point until the Hawks netted two more free-throws. Sammy Opichka dropped a three to tie it for the Tommies at 3:04, but North Dakota responded with a 8-2 run to end the first quarter up 18-12.
Orth kept the momentum going for the Hawks as she hit a three to start the second quarter. The Tommies responded and the teams began to trade baskets until 7:34 when Leet converted a three-point play, which was followed by a Davis three and another basket by Leet. The Tommies stopped the 8-0 run by capitalizing on two free-throws with 6:04 left in the second quarter. started the second quarter with back-to-back baskets, but Maggie Negaard stepped up and hit a three to put the Tommies on the board. Orth responded, but St. Thomas went on a 7-0 run towards the middle of the quarter to bring the game within single digits (26-33; 3:36). Borowicz ended the run and helped start the Hawks on a late 7-0 run of their own to give them the 40-28 lead headed into intermission.
The Tommies came out of the half firing with a three from Erin Norling. Orth responded for the Hawks, but St. Thomas hit consecutive baskets to bring it within six with 7:47 left in the third. It was then North Dakota who hit back-to-back baskets to extend their lead to double figures (47-36; 6:00). Both teams failed to score for almost two minutes, but Norling hit a driving layup to end the drought. The teams traded baskets to end the third as the Fighting Hawks led 60-47 at the end of it.
St. Thomas was the first to strike again going on a 6-0 run. The Hawks ended the run by netting two free-throw and hitting a jumper. The battle continued as the Tommies hit consecutive baskets and then the Hawk retaliated and went on a 9-0 run to end the fourth quarter. The Tommies continued to attack, but North Dakota ended the game on top, 74-61.
Norling led the Tommies with 22 points. Jade Hill followed behind her with 11 points, four assists, and one rebound.
North Dakota finished their home games with one more against Western Illinois on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 1 p.m.
Game Recap: Women’s Basketball | 2/10/2022 9:25:00 PM | Candy Jimenez-Caballero, FightingHawks.com
Comments