(UND Athletics/Russell Hons)
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (UND Athletics)– Behind a triple-double from Kacie Borowicz and a double-double from Kiyah Hurst, the North Dakota women’s basketball team earned its first Summit League win of the season 100-75 over Omaha at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center Thursday night.
Kacie Borowicz joins two North Dakota greats in the record book, Katie Richards and Jenny Crouse, as the third player in program history to record a triple-double. Borowicz scored 20 points, dished out 10 assists and pulled down 11 rebounds in the Fighting Hawk win. Her rebounding total was also a career-high, while her 10 assists is a new season best.
Kiyah Hurst notched her second double-double of the season with 22 points and 10 boards. Hurst was lights out from deep, setting a new career-high by connecting on all four of her three-point attempts.
Hurst scored early and often to help the Fighting Hawks build a 27-19 lead after 10 minutes of play. The sophomore scored UND’s first eight points of the game, and 13 of its first 15, with two three-pointers in the first five minutes of play. The Mavericks took an 11-10 lead after their third three-pointer, but the Hawks closed out the period by outscoring UNO 17-8 over the final six minutes. UND took advantage down low with 12 points in the paint and shot 11-of-17 from the field in the first 10 minutes while holding UNO to .313 percent.
North Dakota’s momentum carried over to the second quarter, as they went on a 17-4 run between the end of the first period and the 6:54 mark of the second to take a 41-21 lead. DJ Davis got the scoring started with a triple, while a Hurst trey and a Kiera Pemberton bucket closed out the run. The Hawks grabbed their largest lead of the first half, 21, following a Pemberton jumper in the final minute, and took a 53-34 lead into the intermission following a UNO bucket. Hurst led the way with 18 points in the opening 20 minutes, while Pemberton added 11 on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting.
The Fighting Hawks went 20-for-34 from the field and 7-for-10 from deep in the first half, including 22 points in the paint. On the opposite end of the court, UND held Omaha to 10-of-28 shooting and turned the Mavericks over 10 times, which turned into 11 NoDak points.
UND held a 20-plus point lead throughout the second half behind a defensive effort that held UNO to 10-of-31 from the field. The Hawks hot shooting and tough defense continued in the final 20 minutes, as they shot over .500 percent in the second half while holding UNO to .323 percent. Eight players scored in the final frame, as UND cruised to its 100-75 win over the Mavericks.
The Fighting Hawks return to the Betty on Saturday for a matchup with Kansas City at 1:00 p.m.
Postgame Notes
- Kacie Borowicz recorded her first career triple-double and set a career-high with 10 rebounds
- Kiyah Hurst tallied her second double-double of the season
- UND is now 5-1 on the season when they lead at halftime
- NoDak set a new season-high with 11 three-pointers
- The Fighting Hawks shot over .500 percent from deep for the second time this season
- UND scored 46 points in the paint, 29 from its bench and 21 off turnovers
- North Dakota won the rebounding battle 47-30 and had 14 offensive rebounds
- UND dished out a season-high 22 assists
- Four UND players reached double-figure scoring
- The Fighting Hawks hit 100 points for the first time this season
- North Dakota improves its record to 56-11 all-time against Omaha
How It Happened
Q1: UND 27, UNO 19
Q2: UND 53, UNO 34
Q3: UND 77, UNO 53
Q4: UND 100, UNO 75
Game Recap: Women’s Basketball | 1/11/2024 10:06:00 PM | Ethan Erdman, FightingHawks.com
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