GRAND FORKS, N.D.-- Thanks to an opening period that saw host North Dakota outscore Northern Arizona, 41-17, UND charged past the Lady Lumberjacks 70-50 at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center in Big Sky Conference play Saturday afternoon. Junior Madi Buck registered her second straight double-double with a team-high 16 points and 11 rebounds.
It was a 21-2 run the opening period that stretched a thin one-point UND lead into a massive 31-11 advantage just 14 minutes into the ballgame. After a 1-of-8 start from the field, UND made 15-of-29 the rest of the half to take a lead of two dozen into the halftime break.
Through 20 minutes, North Dakota dominated play and held nearly every statistical advantage over the Lumberjacks. UND out-rebounded its opponent, 29-13, including a whopping 12 offensive rebounds in the opening period that led to 13 second-chance points in that frame alone.
Leading Big Sky Conference scorere Amy Patton had seven quick points but was held to just one bucket the rest of the half as UND's defensive efforts helped the home team to a 41-17 halftime cushion. She would wind up with 23 points on the night to lead all scorers, but got little help as Aubrey Davis added 18 but the rest of the team combined for just nine points.
NAU (4-14, 3-6 Big Sky) chipped the lead down to 15 at one point in the second half, but a Nicole Smart jumper and triples from Buck stopped any momentum and UND put the brakes on a five-game losing streak.
UND (8-11, 3-7) had three players in double figures as Smart and Megan Lauck each chipped-in 11 points to go along with Buck's second straight double-double (16 points, 11 rebounds).
The North Dakota defense produced 15 steals and produced 21 NAU turnovers.
North Dakota will head to winless Weber State (0-19, 0-10) Thursday with the tip set for 8:00 p.m. Central.
Notes: NAU's 17 points in the first half were the lowest total by a UND opponent in a half this season ... UND has held the rebounding advantage in each of the last four games ... UND's 15 steals tied a season high (vs. Air Force- Dec. 4, 2012) ... North Dakota is 5-0 when it turns the ball over 15 times or less.
It was a 21-2 run the opening period that stretched a thin one-point UND lead into a massive 31-11 advantage just 14 minutes into the ballgame. After a 1-of-8 start from the field, UND made 15-of-29 the rest of the half to take a lead of two dozen into the halftime break.
Through 20 minutes, North Dakota dominated play and held nearly every statistical advantage over the Lumberjacks. UND out-rebounded its opponent, 29-13, including a whopping 12 offensive rebounds in the opening period that led to 13 second-chance points in that frame alone.
Leading Big Sky Conference scorere Amy Patton had seven quick points but was held to just one bucket the rest of the half as UND's defensive efforts helped the home team to a 41-17 halftime cushion. She would wind up with 23 points on the night to lead all scorers, but got little help as Aubrey Davis added 18 but the rest of the team combined for just nine points.
NAU (4-14, 3-6 Big Sky) chipped the lead down to 15 at one point in the second half, but a Nicole Smart jumper and triples from Buck stopped any momentum and UND put the brakes on a five-game losing streak.
UND (8-11, 3-7) had three players in double figures as Smart and Megan Lauck each chipped-in 11 points to go along with Buck's second straight double-double (16 points, 11 rebounds).
The North Dakota defense produced 15 steals and produced 21 NAU turnovers.
North Dakota will head to winless Weber State (0-19, 0-10) Thursday with the tip set for 8:00 p.m. Central.
Notes: NAU's 17 points in the first half were the lowest total by a UND opponent in a half this season ... UND has held the rebounding advantage in each of the last four games ... UND's 15 steals tied a season high (vs. Air Force- Dec. 4, 2012) ... North Dakota is 5-0 when it turns the ball over 15 times or less.
