NORTH DAKOTA at DENVER
DATE:  Wednesday, Jan. 1  |  8 p.m. CT
SITE:  Denver, Colo. (Hamilton Gymnasium)
RADIO:  100.3 FM, 740 AM (Jack Michaels)
TV/VIDEO:  DenverPioneers.com
LIVE STATS:  DenverPioneers.com
TWITTER: @UNDWBasketball

QUICK JUMPERS
*Since joining the Division I ranks, North Dakota is 6-4 in conference openers.
*The University of North Dakota is 1-0 in Summit League openers, defeating Purdue Fort Wayne in its inaugural League game, 79-60.
*UND defeating Denver in the opening round of The Summit League Tournament, 80-67. The Hawks overcame a 16-point deficit in the game.
*North Dakota will enter conference play with the second-best scoring defense (61.2) and scoring margin (10.9) in The Summit League.
*The Fighting Hawks top-four scorers at New Orleans were all freshmen: Olivia Lane (21), Megan Zander (18), Kacie Borowicz (11), and Maggie Manson (3).
*Lane set a new career-high while Zander matched her best total of the season.
*Borowicz led UND in assists against the Privateers with eight, the most by a Fighting Hawk this season.

ON TAP
After closing its non-conference schedule last Saturday at New Orleans with a 9-4 record, the University of North Dakota will open Summit League play and 2020 at the University of Denver on New Year's Day.

A HISTORICAL START TO THE SEASON
Off to a 9-4 start, North Dakota has equaled its best start since joining the Division I ranks. UND also opened the season 9-4 in 2013-14 and 2014-15, en route to NCAA Tournament and Women's Basketball Invitational appearances.

PIOS AND HAWKS
The University of North Dakota and Denver played three times last season, with the Pioneers winning two of the three meetings. However, the Fighting Hawks had the last laugh as they overcame a 16-point deficit to defeat the Pios in The Summit League Tournament First Round, 80-67. Denver nearly lost to UND on Senior Night last season after leading the Hawks by 18 points. A three-pointer by Haley Simental at the buzzer, her first basket of the game, forced overtime and helped DU to the 92-91 victory.

North Dakota leads the series, 3-2, winning the first two meetings in 1987 and 1988, respectively.

A QUICK REMINDER
The Fighting Hawks were picked to finish sixth in The Summit League's Preseason Coaches poll last October. North Dakota finished non-conference play with the second-best record (9-4).

SCOUTING DENVER
Denver will enter Wednesday night's game with a 7-7 record, reaching the .500 mark after defeating North Dakota State in its Summit League opener on Dec. 29, 91-82. The Pioners closed the month of December with a 3-4 record, including a pair of losses in Puerto Rico before Christmas versus Akron and Western Michigan. The Pioneers are averaging 78.1 points per game this season and shooting .415 from the field while allowing its opponents to 74 points and a .431 field goal percentage. Three Pioneers are averaging 10+ points per game with Madison Nelson leading the team with 17.8 points and 11.4 rebounds. Lauren Loven is scoring 14.6 points per game, while Uju Ezeudu is averaging 11.1 points per game.

NEXT UP
North Dakota will return to action on Sunday, Jan. 5, when it hosts Purdue Fort Wayne at The Betty Engelstad Sioux Center in the first game of a doubleheader with the men's team at 2 p.m.