FARGO, N.D.-- Makailah Dyer's running layup in the closing seconds of overtime pushed visiting North Dakota past North Dakota State, 90-87, Saturday evening at Scheels Arena. After Brooke LeMar hit a step-back triple for part of her game-high 33 points, Dyer drove to the rim from the left wing to put UND up for good.

Five UND players were in double figures as junior Mia Loyd led the way with 22 points and 13 rebounds while senior Emily Evers recorded 15 points, 13 rebounds, seven blocks, two assists and two steals. Junior Kelsey Knox etched a new career high with 15 to complement Leah Szabla and Dyer who each added a dozen.

In a rivalry game, you can expect big moments and huge performances from star players. LeMar's 33-point, seven-rebound effort fit the billing Saturday, including a pair of threes that gave NDSU leads in both regulation and overtime. But, each time North Dakota had the answer.

LeMar helped NDSU erase a 16-point deficit in the second half with seven straight points in the final few minutes. Her stepback three with the shot clock winding down gave the Bison an 80-78 advantage with 1:34 to go. Sophomore Leah Szabla calmly swished a pair of free throws, however, to tie the score at 80-80 and Taylor Thunstedt's three in the closing seconds was off the mark to send it to overtime.

In the extra frame, UND asserted control early, scoring the first four points. NDSU immediately answered with four straight before Kelsey Knox's tough-mosed drive put UND back in front, 86-84, with 1:44 to go. LeMar again hit a long three, this one from the top of the key for an 87-86 lead and 26 seconds left.

On North Dakota's ensuing possession, Dyer took her defender off the dribble, slicing toward the lane from the left wing with a strong two-handed finish. Liz Keena missed on a short shot underneath and Emily Evers collected her 13th rebound of the game, getting fouled in the process. The lefty buried a pair of free throws with 1.5 seconds remaining to all but seal it, but UND had to dodge one final bullet.

A long baseball pass to midcourt eventually found its way to a wide-open Kahla Becken who got off a good look from the left wing but it misfired and North Dakota earned its fifth straight game in the all-time series with UND and third in the NCAA Division I era.

Both teams held leads in a back-and-forth first half as Szabla drove and scored on back-to-back trips for a quick 4-0 lead. NDSU answered with seven straight and remained in front until an 18-1 UND run helped the visitors mount a 13-point lead in the opening stanza. North Dakota took a 50-42 lead into the locker room.

In the second half, North Dakota extended its lead to as many as 16 at 70-54. From there, NDSU whittled away at the lead and trimmed it to eight on a Holly Johnson jumper and 7:38 to play. Mia Loyd scored on a layup nearly a minute later to break a field goal drought for UND but NDSU continued to apply pressure. Johnson had a layup and a three to trim it to five and had a pair of free throws later to make it a one possession game at 76-73 and 3:46 on the clock.

After a Megan Lauck jumper, LeMar would score those seven straight points to give NDSU its first lead of the second half before Szabla's free throws sent it to extra time.

North Dakota, which did not score a three-point field goal (0-for-7), exerted its force down low, outscoring NDSU 62-36 in the paint.
 
North Dakota (7-1), winners of seven straight, will host BIG Ten foe Minnesota on Wednesday at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.

Notes: UND made a combined 8-of-9 free throws in the second half and overtime ... Evers has collected 15 blocks in her last four contests ... Dyer's seven assists were a career best ... UND's seven non-conference wins this season have already tied last season's total with four still to play ... North Dakota is 7-0 all-time against the Summit League in Division I play ... Coach Travis Brewster is 3-0 all-time against NDSU ... It was Evers' fifth double-double of the season and fourth for Loyd.