North Dakota Uses Strong Second Half to Down Bobcat Women

Thursday, February 7

Grand Forks, ND

7 p.m.

Montana State University

14-8, 8-5BSC

NORTH DAKOTA

10-12, 5-8BSC

Team	1	2	F
Montana State	24	31	55
North Dakota	23	39	62

Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson

North Dakota Uses Strong Second Half to Down Bobcat Women

2/7/2013 10:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Despite owning a six-point lead in the first half and a one-point advantage at intermission, the Montana State women’s basketball team couldn’t overcome North Dakota’s second period shooting as UND defeated MSU 62-55, Thursday night in the Betty Engelstad Sports Center.

By: Tom Schulz

Despite owning a six-point lead in the first half and a one-point advantage at intermission, the Montana State women's basketball team couldn't overcome North Dakota's second period shooting as UND defeated MSU 62-55, Thursday night in the Betty Engelstad Sports Center.

Montana State (14-8, 8-5) took a 19-13 lead at the 8:39 mark of the opening frame on a Kalli Durham three-pointer. North Dakota (10-12, 5-8) closed out the half on a 10-5 run to trail by one at halftime.

UND opened the second stanza on an 8-2 run capped by back-to-back 3-pointers and never looked back. The Bobcats closed to within 36-34 with 15:08 remaining on a Lexi Dawkins jumper, but North Dakota rattled off five unanswered points and maintained its lead down the stretch, securing the game converting 8-of-8 from the free throw line in the final one-minute, 36-seconds.

North Dakota shot 46 percent from the field in the second half, while limiting Montana State to just 34 percent.

“We need our team to relax,” said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. “In the first-round of conference action we played as a team without fear. Now, in the second-round, we need to stay in the moment and play with confidence.”

Montana State, who dropped its fourth game in a row, changed its starting line-up, inserting freshmen Lindsay Stockton and Dawkins into the first rotation.

Ashley Brumwell and Latisha Adams came off the bench to score a team-best 15 and 12 points, respectively.

The Bobcats won the battle of the boards 39-36, paced by Brumwell, who pulled down a team-high eight rebounds. MSU also had a hard time overcoming UND's 22-26 performance from the free throw line, while converting just 8-11 on its own end.

North Dakota was guided by Madi Buck with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Montana State will play at Northern Colorado on Saturday at 2 p.m., in Greeley.