GRAND FORKS, N.D--  North Dakota shot 57 percent from the floor and led for the bulk of the game, but had to fight through 21 turnovers to hang on for an 81-79 win over Eastern Washington Thursday evening at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. 

Junior forward Lexi Klabo had 10 quick points on her way to 26 points and seven rebounds, despite playing through foul trouble, part of four Fighting Hawks in double figures. Fallyn Freije added 15 points while Melissa Dailey and Jill Morton each chipped in 10. 

Delaney Hodgins and Violet Kapri Morrow combined for 53 points for the Eagles, but a 26-15 first-quarter deficit proved to be a large hole from which to recover. 

One game after shooting a season-high 52 percent Saturday against Northern Colorado, UND blistered the nets, especially in the first half, to the tune of 57.1 percent. North Dakota hit on all but two field goals in the first quarter, making 8-of-10 for a gaudy 80 percent clip. Klabo did most of the work, scoring a dozen in that opening period as UND trailed 7-4 early then ripped off 12 straight points to garner the advantage. The lead would sit at 11 after the first quarter with UND holding a 26-15 edge. 

That advantage would blossom to as many as 13 early in the second quarter before the Eagles attempted the comeback. Eastern (10-10, 5-3) was able to trim the deficit to seven at the break and made it a six-point game with 10 minutes remaining. 

Both teams were in foul trouble as Klabo had foul personals early with starters Morton and Mikayla Reinke fouling out. The teams combined to shoot 60 free throws in the contest with EWU making good on 88 percent of them (22-25) to help stay in the ball game. Eastern's fullcourt pressure also forced 21 North Dakota turnovers that led directly to 32 Eagle points as things got hairy in the fourth. 

Hodgins scored four straight points to whittle the deficit all the way down to one at 63-62 in the early stages of the final period. Freije answered, however with a three-pointer before the next Eastern Washington surge tied the score at 68-all. Mariah Cunningham's three-point play was the tying play midway through the period until a clutch Morton three from the left corner reclaimed a UND lead.

Kapri Morrow scored a tough runner to trim it to one again, but this time Melissa Dailey had the answer with a straight-on three for a 74-70 North Dakota edge. Freije would make it a six-point game on UND's next trip down but the Fighting Hawks continued to have to battle to the finish. Morrow tripled but Klabo raced through the lane and scored a nifty Freije feed to make it a two-possession game. Freije would seal the deal later with a free throw for a four-point lead and just four seconds remaining.

North Dakota (10-9, 3-5 Big Sky) hosts Idaho Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at the Betty. 

Notes: North Dakota is now 8-1 at home and has won 14 of its last 15 at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center dating back to last season ... Klabo scored her 13th career 20-point game ... UND improves to 6-4 all-time over Eastern Washington ... UND's field goal percentage was a season high ... North Dakota shot 80 percent (8-for-10) in the first quarter ... JIll Morton scored in double figures for the third straight game and is averaging 15.6 points per game over her last five.