GRAND FORKS, N.D. --- The University of North Dakota women's basketball team knew it had a tough task, opening the season against 11-time defending Horizon League champion Green Bay. The Sioux (0-1) looked up to the task early on tonight, jumping out to an 8-0 lead, but a strong second half led to a 74-56 win for the Phoenix at the Betty Englestad Sioux Center.
Junior Mallory Youngblut (Davenport, Iowa) was the game's leading scorer going 6-for-13 from the field and 3-for-7 from behind the arc, while Heather Golden led Green Bay (1-0) with 16 points. Youngblut also led the Sioux in rebounds with eight, and added two steals and three assists.
The Phoenix took a 36-29 lead into the halftime break, but North Dakota was able to cut the lead down to two points (twice) with as much as 15:09 remaining. However, Green Bay outscored the Sioux 33-17 the rest of the way.
Green Bay finished the game shooting 48.2 percent from the field and 57.7 percent against the Sioux defense in the second half.
The Sioux came out aggressive to open the game, immediately making a defensive stand then turning it into a three-point opportunity on the other end of the court. Senior guard Alys Seay (Grand Forks, N.D) drove the hoop, making the basket along with drawing the foul. Seay missed the shot from the line, but the Sioux grabbed the rebound and Youngblut knocked down a three-pointer. Youngblut hit another trey before the Phoenix got onto the scoreboard over four minutes into the game with a jumpshot from Celeste Hoewisch.
Youngblut's third three of the half gave the Sioux a lead of 13-8 only 6:23 into the game before Green Bay went on a 12-0 run over the next four minutes. The run gave the Pheonix their first lead of the game, which they carried into the half.
Green Bay outscored the Sioux 16-1 in bench points the first half (22-1 in the game) led by Adrian Ritchie's 10 points with two three-pointers.
Green Bay opened the second half with a three-pointer by Sara Eichler, leadin to the games first double-digit lead, but was quickly answered as senior Kayla Bagaason (Clearbrook, Minn.) nailed her attempt from behind the arc the next trip up the court. Bagaason finished the game with 10 points and two three-pointers.
Finding a chink in the armor, the Sioux scored consecutive baskets driving the baseline for lay-ups, which cut the lead to two points with 15:09 remaining. It would be the closest UND would come to regaining the lead.
Seay and Whitney Ledger (Bismarck, N.D.) added double-digit points for the Sioux with 12 and 10 points, respectively, joining Youngblut and Bagaason.
The Sioux will now head on the road to take on the Wisconsin Badgers on Sunday with a scheduled 12 p.m. start.
-GO SIOUX-
