Box Score El Paso, Tex. – Back court pressure applied in the first 10 minutes by UTEP was the story in an 89-69 Miner win over North Dakota.  The Fighting Hawks, playing with three starters who were unavailable, committed 11 first quarter turnovers that led to a 28-10 deficit at the end of the period. 

The Fighting Hawks won the tip and immediately saw the UTEP pressure all over the court.  Joli Daninger found a wide-open Melissa Leet at the rim who scored the opening basket.  After that UTEP dominated the first rest of the first quarter using its hard pressure everywhere on the court.

In the following three quarters, the Fighting Hawks adjusted to the pressure committing just four, three and three turnovers respectively as the Hawks got more comfortable and scored against the pressure on numerous occasions.

Maggie Manson, who finished with 15 points knocked down three first half three-pointers was a beneficiary of the Fighting Hawks execution against the pressure.  It was Claire Orth's turn in the second half to score against the press.  Orth finished with 17 points and poured in 14 of those after halftime.

In her first collegiate game Sammiyah Hoskin scored eight points in the second half and ten for the game to go along with four rebounds. 
Trailing 53-30 at the half, the Fighting Hawks scored nine of the first 13 points of the third quarter including a triple from DJ Davis playing in her home state.  That was the final three-pointer for North Dakota in the game.

Jodi Anderson followed up an impressive collegiate debut on Tuesday when she just missed a double-double with nine points and three rebounds today in El Paso.

As a team, North Dakota shot 47-percent from the field, just three percentage points behind UTEP who put up 68 attempts, nine more than the Fighting Hawks had.

UTEP's Elina Arike posted a double-double with 19 points and 15 rebounds.  The Miners made 44-percent from three point territory going 11-for-25.  Both of those facts combined with forcing eleven first quarter turnovers were the difference in the game.

North Dakota will open it's home season on Thursday at noon against the Montana Lady Griz.