BOZEMAN, Mont.-- First-place Montana State remained undefeated in league play with a 69-61 win over North Dakota Thursday evening. The Bobcats are one of two teams still unbeaten in Big Sky Conference action through five games.

UND was led by Leah Szabla, who scored 15 points, including an 8-for-8 effort from the free throw line. North Dakota (5-11, 1-4) trailed by as many as 16 in the second half but rallied with 21 fourth-quarter points in the loss.

Montana State (12-4, 5-0) was paced by Jasmine Hommes' 20 points while Hannah Caudill added 17 points and Peyton Ferris chipped in 12 points and nine rebounds off the bench.

North Dakota held the early edge, keeping the home team off the scoreboard until the 6:18 mark as UND led, 4-0. That MSU basket sparked an 8-0 Bobcat run to put them in front for good. An 11-1 Montana State spurt that spanned the end of the first and beginning of the second quarter helped MSU build a lead of a dozen before going into the halftime break up 34-21.

Out of the break, back-to-back Hommes field goals put the MSU advantage at its largest at 16 just a few minutes into the half. UND responded with a 10-3 stretch to get it back to single digits and trailed by just 10 going into the final frame.

North Dakota got it back to eight points on two different occasions but could get no closer as Hannah Caudill answered the second with her fifth triple of the game to stretch the lead back to 11. Kanani Asuncion hit a three in UND's final possession to put the final at 69-61, Asuncion's first three of her career.

Fallyn Freieje added nine points off the bench for UND while Makailah Dyer also had nine and Samantha Roscoe chipped in eight.

UND will travel to Montana to tangle with the defending league champion Lady Griz Saturday. Tip time is slated for 3:00 p.m Central.