Deden Paces Bobcats at North Dakota

Saturday, November 20

Grand Forks, ND

1 p.m. (MT)

Montana State University

1-4,0-0Big Sky

North Dakota

1-3,0-0Summit League

Montana St.

North Dakota

Lexi Deden

Photo by: Brooks Nuanez

11/20/2021 10:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Tom Schulz

Montana State got out to the start they wanted building an early 14-0 lead, but North Dakota responded shooting 61.5% in the second quarter to take a 10-point advantage at intermission en route to an 89-85 victory over the Bobcats on Saturday afternoon in the Betty Englestad Sioux Center.

"We got off to a great start," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. "But we have yet to put a complete game together. We need to trust in the process and that starts on the defensive end."

Montana State (1-4) held an 18-4 lead at the 3:39 mark of the opening frame following a pair of Mia Hughes free throws. North Dakota (1-3) responded with a 15-4 run of it own to trim the Bobcat margin to 22-19 after the opening 10-minutes. Lexi Deden sparked the Cats with eight points.

The Fighting Hawks opened the second period with six straight points to take its first lead. MSU's Katelynn Limardo helped MSU get the lead back at the 7:06 mark with a three-pointer, but UND closed out the half outscoring the Bobcats 20-10 to hold a 45-35 cushion at intermission.

North Dakota pushed the lead to 48-35 coming out of halftime, but a 10-0 Bobcat run closed the margin to 48-45 following at Madison Jackson triple at the 5:16 mark. UND held a 65-56 lead after three quarters.

UND opened the final period with five consecutive points to hold its largest lead at 14, but again, the Bobcats answered closing the deficit to 74-70 on a pair of Leia Beattie free throws with 2:50 remaining. The Fighting Hawks closed out the game connecting on 12-of-13 free throws in the final two minutes.

Deden, a sophomore from Missoula, paced the Bobcats with 17 points, while adding 10 rebounds for her first collegiate double-double. Also in double figure were Darian White 14, Limardo 13 and Beattie 11. White also added a season high seven assists and seven steals.

For the game, Montana State shot 34.3% from the field, including a nine-of-23 effort from long distance. The Bobcats also converted 30-37 free throws.

North Dakota hit at a 48.9% clip and connected on 35-39 from the line. Kacie Borowicz finished with 30 points, including a school record 20-of-20 from the charity stripe.

Montana State plays at the Cal Poly Classic next week in San Luis Obispo, Calif., and will face North Texas on Friday, Nov. 26.