GRAND FORKS, N.D.--  South Dakota jumped on North Dakota early and pulled away for an 80-50 Summit League win Thursday evening at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. The win keeps the Coyotes in first place in the league standings and hands the Fighting Hawks their fourth straight setback. 

Sophomore Mikayla Reinke hauled down a career-high 10 rebounds in the loss with Lexi Klabo adding 10 points and eight rebounds and Jill Morton chipping in 10 points as well for UND. 

"We've got to put the ball in the hole a little bit better, we've got to get tougher with the rock in attacking the rim and we've got to knock down some outside shots," UND head coach Travis Brewster said. "We've got to get more on the glass, too. Lexi is getting a bit worn down physically at this time of the year and we've got to get tougher mentally. We need to find a way to regenerate ourselves at this part of the season."

North Dakota scored first but the Coyotes rattled off 10 straight points and had a 17-7 edge at the end of one. At the half, UND was still in search of a groove offensively as the visitors went into the locker room with a 40-16 lead.

The third quarter grinded the game to a halt as it lasted 34 minutes for that frame alone with the teams both being in the double bonus just 3:17 into the period. UND would be whistled for 33 fouls and South Dakota committed 30 personals to keep the stoppages plentiful throughout to make going on a fueled run with momentum and the crowd all but impossible. 

The loss keeps UND in a logjam in the league standings in the 7th spot at 3-5 as the teams reach the midway point of the conference schedule. 

Four players were in double figures for first-place South Dakota (18-3, 6-1), led by Hannah Sjerven's 16 off the bench. 

North Dakota will next play at Western Illinois in eight days starting a trip that includes a visit to Omaha on Feb. 3.

NOTES
*UND suffers its fourth loss at home this season (3-4). 
*Reinke's 10 rebounds were a career best
*Reinke led UND in rebounding for the first time this season.
*Klabo, who leads the NCAA in free throws made, went 6-6 from the line Thursday.