GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Macy Miller and Madison Guebert combined for 51 points to boost visiting South Dakota State past host North Dakota, 83-72, in non-conference play Tuesday night at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. Miller recorded a game-high 26 while Guebert had 13 of her 25 in the first quarter to push the Jacks in front for good.
North Dakota (2-5) had four players in double figures led by 14 from sophomore Fallyn Freije. Lexi Klabo added 13 while Leah Szabla chipped in 12 and Makailah Dyer had 11 for the Fighting Hawks. UND, fresh off a season-high 11 three-points in Saturday's win over San Francisco, nailed 10 in Tuesday's loss.
"I thought the first half was very indicative of how our season has been going," UND head coach Travis Brewster said. "We lacked a little bit of cohesion. We came out in the second half and figured it out. I honestly thought we let one slip away. They are a good team that we played tough. They are a good team and they play together."
Klabo had UND's first four points and coupled with a three from Bailey Strand and a Szabla lay-in, North Dakota enjoyed a 9-6 edge early. But, it was short-lived, however, as Guebert hit the first of her six triples on the night to tie the score and spark a 9-0 Jackrabbit run.
Morton answered with a three with 3:09 to go in the first, but it would be the Fighting Hawks' final field goal for nearly three minutes as SDSU led, 21-14, through the first frame. That advantage grew to as many as 13 in the second quarter before settling at 10 at halftime. At the break, Guebert had 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting including 4-of-7 from distance.
Dyer hit from downtown to start the third quarter, but UND could get no closer than five in that frame. Klabo made a tough basket uunderneath for a 45-40 score that was immediately countered with a Guebert three. The lead remained at eight through three quarters to force North Dakota into another fourth-quarter effort similar to last Saturday's win in which UND out-scored San Francisco, 28-11, over the final 10 minutes.
Szabla buried back-to-back threes to kickstart the frame, trimming the deficit to just four. North Dakota couldn't get over the hump, however, as Miller scored 10 of her game-high total in the final quarter.
SDSU (7-1) got 80 of its 83 points from its starting five in the win.
UND will head to Fargo, N.D., to battle in-state rival North Dakota State Saturday at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex. Tip time is slated for 7:00 p.m.
