GRAND FORKS, N.D. - The University of North Dakota (1-13, 1-7 Summit League) picked up its first win of the season on Friday night against Western Illinois, 79-57, as the Fighting Hawks dominated the paint and on the glass. The Leathernecks (3-12, 2-7 Summit League) were outscored 30-10 in the paint and 25-0 in second-chance points as North Dakota won the battle on the glass, 57-30, including 29 offensive rebounds.

Three Fighting Hawks scored in double figures as Julia Fleecs recorded 19 points 11 rebounds while Jaclyn Jarnot also registered a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards. Megan Zander tallied 16 points and was one of 11 UND players to get on the scoreboard.

The win marked the first career victory for Interim Head Coach Mallory Bernhard and snapped a 15-game winless streak for UND dating back to Feb. 29, 2020, at No. 12 South Dakota. It was the Fighting Hawks first victory by 20 points or more in a Summit League game and its biggest margin of victory in a conference game since Feb. 19, 2015 versus Portland State (76-45).

"I think the zeroes started mounting a bit and I think we felt it in a couple games. There were some nights when we thought we were right there but we just couldn't get over that hump. But today was a great example of fighting through that end of game pressure," said Bernhard.

"I think tonight's big because it gives this team some confidence that we can win and hold off those runs," she continued. "We've come close so many times, and when that happens you start to question yourself. We weren't down ourselves or each other but we lacked some confidence, but tonight we proved to ourselves that we can get over that hump."

North Dakota controlled the run of play in the first quarter, dealing its attacks in volume as it outshot the Leathernecks 21-11 in the period and carried a 10-point advantage into the second quarter. The volume also resulted in the Hawks making 11 trips to the free-throw line to WIU's four in the half.

While Western Illinois took its chances behind the three-point line, finishing 8-for-15 behind the arc in the half, most of its damage was outside the arc as UND's size resulted in a 12-2 scoring differential in the paint.

The Leathernecks came out in the second half and stormed the North Dakota defense, and outscored the Hawks, 18-13; however, the UND defense showed a bend but don't break mentality as it disrupted WIU's hot three-point shooting and limiting to 3-for-10 in the period after shooting 6-of-8 in the second.

While Western Illinois closed the gap to three points with 4:10 left in the third period, the Fighting Hawks outscored the Leathernecks in the final 14 minutes 35-16 to close the night with a 22-point victory, 79-57. 

The Hawks and Western Illinois will close the series on Saturday night, tipping off at 5 p.m. Central on MidcoSN2. Pregame radio show with Jack Michaels will begin at 4:30 p.m.