MISSOULA, Mont.-- Montana never trailed and took a 15-point win to remain in first place in the Big Sky Conference, defeating North Dakota, 66-51, Thursday night in league action. Kellie Rubel led all scorers with 20, part of three players in double figures for the Griz.

"It was probably the first time in long time that we got pounded inside," UND head coach Travis Brewster said. "That's not on our posts, but on our guards. I thought our inside post presence of Emily Evers and Mia Loyd was effective against their collapsing defense. We've got to be tougher on the defensive end.  I believe that when someone comes at you, you've got to come even stronger. We have to knock down shots with inside-out action. We can't give up runs to start halves, we have to be ready to go out of the shoot.

An early run put Montana up by double figures before UND closed it to eight at the break. Coming out of the half, however, UM (17-6, 10-2) answered with 11 straight to start the frame and remained in front throughout.

That opening spurt saw the home team jump out to a 15-4 headstart with just over six minutes off the clock. An 8-0 run by North Dakota later in the half, fueled by back-to-back buckets by Evers inside, helped whittle the deficit all the way down to one at 19-18 with over minutes left in the opening frame. But, the Lady Griz answered with eight quick points on book-ending threes by Kellie Rubel and Hannah Doran and went into the locker room at halftime with a 31-23 advantage.

Out of the break, Montana scored the first 11 points to pile up a 19-point cushion. UND was held off the scoreboard in the second half for five minutes until Loyd muscled in an and-one to start an 8-0 streak for the visitors.

North Dakota got it within 11 on three different occasions in that final half, but Montana was able to fend off the rally to even the season series between the clubs.

North Dakota (16-8, 8-4) was led by senior Emily Evers, who finished with 16 points and seven rebounds. Mia Loyd added 13 points and seven boards for UND. North Dakota heads to Montana State Saturday for a matchup with the Bobcats.

Notes: UND's 10 turnovers were a season low ... Montana's four miscues also marked a season low for a North Dakota opponent ... Leah Szabla grabbed eight rebounds off the bench Thursday, marking a new career high .. UND remains in a tie for second place after Sacramento State fell to Eastern Washington 80-79 Thursday.