GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Led by senior co-captain Mallory Youngblut's second double-double of the season, the University of North Dakota women's basketball team captured an important 63-53 Great West Conference opener victory against South Dakota in front of over 2,775 fans at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.
The senior forward from Davenport, Iowa, finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds to lead UND in scoring for the sixth time this season. She also added a team-best seven assists.
"Today reminded me of the olden days at the Hyslop when we used to pack the gym," said UND head coach Gene Roebuck. "This had the same atmosphere. The fans were really into the game and I think in the end, they were our sixth person on the floor. The more things we did right, the louder they were and that helped give us the energy to win the game."
The Sioux (5-11, 1-0 GWC), who have tallied more wins in the past week then they did the first half of the season, are now one of three teams (Chicago State, NJIT) in the GWC with a league win. With the loss, USD dropped to 9-9 overall, 0-1 in the conference.
The Sioux struggled in the opening half shooting just 32 percent (8-for-25) from the field and 33 percent (4-for-12) at three-point range. They trailed by as much as 10 points until a three-pointer off of the bench at 6:14 by sophomore guard Nicole Smart (Ada, Minn.) ignited an 8-0 run that pulled UND to within two points. The Fighting Sioux went into the half trailing 27-22, but with a quick basket by freshman center Allyssa Wall (North Sioux City, S.D.) and back-to-back three-pointers by freshman Megan Lauck (Arden Hills, Minn.) and Smart, the Sioux tied the game at 30-30 with just under 17 minutes left in the game. That proved to be just enough time for UND to regain its composure, take control and come away with the win.
Smart finished the game with 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting from the field, including a career-high tying four three-pointers. Wall finished 5-for-8 from the field and 4-for-5 at the line to register 14 points and extend her double digit scoring streak to four games. Lauck tallied 11 points - her first double figure game since playing Montana on Dec. 29. She was 4-for-11 from the field, 3-for-5 beyond the arc and added three assists.
When asked what the difference was in the second half, Roebuck credited UND's shooting and its ability to handle the ball as the reason for the turnaround.
"First of all, we made shots," said Roebuck. "And we didn't turn the ball over. We played smart. We just played basketball in the second half. We were moving without the ball and making plays."
In the final 20 minutes, UND shot .538 (14-for-26) from the field, .556 (5-for-9) at three-point range, and .727 (8-for-11) at the free throw line. The Sioux finished the game shooting .431 (22-for-51) from the field, .429 (9-for-21) behind the arc, and .667 (10-for-15) at the free throw line.
The Coyotes were led by Tempestt Wilson, who finished with 18 points on 6-for-17 shooting from the field, including four three-pointers. Amber Hegge finished with eight points and eight rebounds and Alexis Yackley came away with eight points of her own.
South Dakota shot .346 (18-for-52) from the field, .258 (8-for-31) at three-point range, and .692 (9-for-13) at the free throw line.
It was a three-pointer by Lauck at the 10:08 mark the really got things rolling for the Sioux. Her basket was followed by a layup from Wall and a smart play by freshman forward Madi Buck (Bismarck, N.D.). With the court heavy with players on the far side, Buck flashed from the opposite side to the basket and was found open by Youngblut to give UND a 41-40 lead.
After the Coyotes regained the one-point advantage on a pair of free throws by Hegge, Smart hit again from long-range to fire up both the team and the crowd. USD countered on the other end with a three of its own, but through the ensuing two minutes, big scoring plays would give the Sioux the needed energy to take the win to the end.
Up first, Houdek completed the three-point play after being fouled as she tipped in an errant shot by Youngblut. USD answered, but another three by Smart - her fourth of the game - gave the Sioux the 50-46 lead with 6:01 remaining. On the other end, Youngblut picked up the rebound after Buck got a hand on a three-point attempt by Wilson and was fouled as she went in for the layup. Her point after moved UND into a seven-point lead, the largest so far of the game.
The Coyotes tried to work their way back into control, but found each shot match by UND on the other end. In the final four minutes of the game, the Fighting Sioux out-scored South Dakota 10-5. Wall registered all but two of those final points for the Sioux.
Next on the Great West Conference slate for North Dakota is a Thursday, Jan. 20 doubleheader against Utah Valley. The women are scheduled to tipoff at 6 p.m. with the men's game to follow.
GAME NOTES: Today's game marks the 68th time that North Dakota and South Dakota have faced one another on the basketball court. UND leads the all-time series 48-21 (home 27-8, away 19-13, neutral 3-0) ... Mallory Youngblut is now ranked 24th all-time at UND with 1,074 points. She is also 6th in career three-pointers made (185) and eighth in career three-pointers attempted (490) ... Players who reached new career highs against USD today: Nicole Smart - three-pointers (4), three-point attempts (6), Madi Buck - blocked shots (2), Since the inaugural season of the Great West Conference (2008-09), UND has gone 12-1 against league foes and 28-36 against non-conference opponents ... The University of North Dakota women's basketball program holds a 773-292 record all-time since the first game was played in 1974. Under head coach Gene Roebuck, UND is 597-128 ... All-time, the Fighting Sioux are 422-83 (.836) when it comes to defending their own court and are 327-39 (.893) under the tutelage of Gene Roebuck ... UND is 87-14 (.861) all-time at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center, which opened prior to the 2004-05 season ... Head coach Gene Roebuck is just THREE wins away from his 600th win at the helm of Fighting Sioux women's basketball.
- Go Sioux -
