GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- The University of North Dakota women's basketball team defeated Northern Colorado 54-51 on Saturday night at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. 

UND (9-11, 5-4 BSC) picks up its fourth-consecutive win to move over the .500 mark in Big Sky play for the first time this season and within a game of the coveted fourth place in the Big Sky Conference standings.

In a physical game, both teams struggled to find the range in the early part of the game. Northern Colorado (9-10, 4-5) missed 11 of its first 12 shots, allowing the home team to pile up a 10-2 lead.

This marked the third time this season UND has allowed only five points in a quarter with the others coming vs. Omaha and at Minnesota. 

However, the lead was quickly taken away from the Fighting Hawks as Northern Colorado used a 17-10 second quarter to take a 22-20 lead into the halftime break.  Several threes in the closing minutes of the opening half gave the Bears the edge at the break.

Coming out of the intermission, UND got a boost from Makailah Dyer on both sides of the ball as Dyer scored nine points, as well as three rebounds, an assist, and a steal in the quarter to boost the Fighting Hawks to a 22-10 third quarter run to give UND a 42-32 lead after three. 

In the fourth quarter, the Bears would not go quietly as UNC clawed back into the game to give themselves an opportunity to tie late.  Leah Szabla knocked down a key three with under 90 seconds to go to make it a five-point game but the Bears answered with an old-fashioned three-point play on the next trip.

North Dakota led by a bucket with 11 seconds to go, but a turnover gave UNC the ball and a chance to tie or take the lead. Kourtney Zadina drove the lane and missed her shot with Kelsey Knox collecting a huge rebound, part of an impressive 46-22 edge on the glass for UND in the win.

Knox split a pair of free throws so UND had to sweat out a final chance up three. The desperation three at the buzzer was off the mark and UND held on for a 54-51 win, its fourth straight, the largest streak of the season.

Stephanie Smith grabbed her first career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds; while Dyer scored 13 points, added six boards and five rebounds for the Fighting Hawks. Mia Loyd added eight points and six rebounds.

UND hits the road for a pair of games against Idaho State and Weber State on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.