GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Host North Dakota got big contributions from sophomores Lexi Klabo (21 points, 8 rebounds) and Fallyn Freije (13 points, 11 rebounds) to defeat Montana, 73-63, Saturday afternoon in Big Sky Conference play at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. It marked the second 20-point game for Klabo in the last four games and was Freije's first-ever double-double of her budding career.

North Dakota (10-7, 5-1) never trailed, but had to fend off a pesky Lady Griz team in search of its first league win. UND surged in the third quarter, out-scoring UM, 27-20, in that frame to stretch its lead.

It was a 7-0 start for North Dakota as it looked to bounced back from a tough overtime loss on Thursday for its first conference defeat. Montana (3-14, 0-6) responded and got it back to a bucket for the final play of the quarter. Makailah Dyer ended the frame with a buzzer-beating shot that gave UND a 13-9 edge through the first frame.

The Fighting Hawks would stretch their lead to nine early in the second quarter but Montana would not go away, closing within a basket on a few occasions before settling on a 28-26 score at the break.

In the third, Montana (3-14, 0-6) tied the score at 32-32 until Dyer connected on a three then UND got a conventional three-point play on Klabo's and-one on the next trip down the floor. UM whittled it back to one midway through the period, but a 14-4 run by North Dakota stretched the lead. It started with a Samantha Roscoe layup and three with seven points in the strech from Freije as the advantage ballooned to 11.

Emma Stockholm hit one of her three triples trimming it to a half-dozen before Bailey Strand's three beat the clock at the end of the quarter for a 55-46 edge heading into the final quarter. Once there, UND used a quick 8-0 spurt midway through the frame to watch its lead grow to 17. Dyer had the first six points in the run then Grace Sawatzke's layup through traffic made it a 67-50 game with 5:22 to go. UND would hang on to hand Montana its fourth straight defeat in the all-time series.

Dyer finished with 16 points, five rebounds and four assists in the win. Chastity Franklin had eight rebounds, four assists, a block and a steal in 22 minutes for UND. 

UND will head to Weber State Thursday and will continue the road trip Saturday at Idaho State.