GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Senior Mia Loyd's 35th career double-double helped UND to its 11th win in its last 12 games with a 73-61 victory over Montana Wednesday in Big Sky Conference play at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. The win gave the Fighting Hawks a season sweep of the Lady Griz and coupled with a Weber State loss Wednesday, also clinched a top-four finish in league play and a coveted first-round bye in the postseason league tournament.

Three UND players were in double figures with Loyd recording a line of 15 points, 15 rebounds and six assists. Makailah Dyer chipped in 14 points while Jill Morton tied a career best with 10 off the bench for the Fighting Hawks.

UND (16-12, 12-5) fought through a sluggish start, missing on its first five shots from the floor but responded quite nicely. Back-to-back threes from Fallyn Freije kick-started a stretch for the Fighting Hawks that saw them make 5-of-11 from downtown in the opening half . After a modest four-point after one quarter, UND would lay on the accelerator in the second, out-scoring the Lady Griz, 25-12, in that frame to seize control.

It was a 40-23 edge at the halftime break, marking the most points allowed by UM in the first half this season. All seemed to be trending in the right direction for the home team. Out of the break, however, Montana raced out to a quick 10-0 start and eventually worked the score back within five.

But, Makailah Dyer scored a tough layup to regain momentum and North Dakota tallied the first six points of the fourth quarter to regain momentum.

Led by Loyd's efforts, North Dakota dominated the glass once again, out-boarding the Lady Griz, 48-29. UND has now held a double-figure edge in the rebounding margin in nine of its last 12 games during this stretch.

Kayleigh Valley scored 20 while McCalle Feller added 19 in the loss for Montana on just 10-for- 35 shooting.

UND will close the regular season Friday afternoon, hosting the first-place Montana State Bobcats at 2:00 p.m.

Notes: UND head coach Travis Brewster is now 5-4 against UM head coach Robin Selvig, the best among active Big Sky Conference coaches ... North Dakota sweeps the season series from Montana for the first time since joining the Big Sky ... UND improved to 10-3 at home this season ... Loyd's six assists marked a career high ... She has 14 assists combined in her last three games ... Loyd is just 17 rebounds shy of 900 for her standout career.