QUICK JUMPERS

* North Dakota heads to South Dakota State with an overall record of 6-7 and a 0-2 conference record.

* The Fighting Hawks are 2-4 on the road this season.

*  This game marks the last of the two games to be played in the state of South Dakota during this trip.

* North Dakota currently leads in the series against South Dakota State, 41-30.

* UND is currently averaging 67.1 points per game, and they are averaging 37.5 rebounds per game.

* Claire Orth heads into the game having scored 13 points and secured three rebounds.

* Kacie Borowicz scored 11 points against South Dakota. She currently leads the Fighting Hawks in points per game with 16.6.

* Joli Daninger was the third Fighting Hawk to score double digits against USD with ten points. She also secured seven rebounds, three steals, and two assists.

* Olivia Lane finished with eight points and five rebounds.

* South Dakota State currently sits at a 7-7 record.  The Jackrabbits are currently 3-0 for conference play.

 * UND was ranked ninth in the Summit's Preseason Coaches' Poll. They currently sit eighth in the standings.
 

ON TAP

The North Dakota Fighting Hawks head to Brookings to play the South Dakota State Jackrabbits on Saturday, Jan. 1. Opening tip is scheduled for 2 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT

The University of North Dakota fell to the University of South Dakota, 46-85. The Fighting Hawks held the first lead of the game after winning the initial tip. The Coyotes scored a three to take their first lead seconds later and scored another three to go up 6-2 early in the first. UND would continue to battle and regain the lead before USD went on 17-0 run for the final lead change of the game. UND continued to battle, but USD's offense did not let up and ended the half up 44-26. The Fighting Hawks struggled to score in the third until 5:42 when Orth scored to put them on the board. UND forced three consecutive turnovers towards the end of the quarter but that was not enough to cut the lead. In the fourth, the Fighting Hawks were not able to push past the Coyotes, which resulted in a 85-46 win for USD. Claire Orth scored 13 points and secured three rebounds. Kacie Borowicz scored 11 points and Joli Daninger scored ten points, secured seven rebounds, three steals, and two assists. Olivia Lane finished with eight points and five rebounds. The Fighting Hawks finished the afternoon shooting 31.6 percent from the field, 16.7 percent from the three, and 53.8 percent from the line. The Coyotes shot 53.2 percent from the field, 42.3 percent beyond the arch, and 66.7 percent from the line.

ALL-TIME WITH SOUTH DAKOTA STATE

The University of North Dakota leads South Dakota State in the series, 41-30. The last time that the two teams played each other was on Jan. 23, 2021. The Fighting Hawks fell 52-81 to the Jackrabbits at Frost Arena.

OH, CAPTAIN OUR CAPTAINS

Claire Orth led North Dakota's offense against South Dakota. She netted 13 points and secured three rebounds. Orth currently averages 11.8 points per game and 3.9 rebounds per game. Joli Daninger, who serves as captain alongside Orth, ended the evening with ten points against USD. She secured seven rebounds, three steals and two assists. Daninger sits at 5.5 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game.

BOROWICZ BOUNCED BACK

Kacie Borowicz leads the Fighting Hawks on offense this season. She averages 16.6 points per game. After missing the first three regular season games, Borowicz started the year with a bang. She reached a new single-game record and broke the UND record for most free-throws made in a game going 20-for-20 against Montana State. She ended her first game back with 33 points. Since then, she has ended every game except the one against Detroit Mercy in double digits. Borowicz looks to continue the double-digit streak as she heads into 2022 with the first contest being against the Jackrabbits.

 

SCOUTING SOUTH DAKOTA STATE

South Dakota enters the game with a 7-7 overall record and a 3-0 conference record. The Jackrabbits opened their season with a 70-49 win against Green Bay at Frost Arena. They then hit the road and faced losses to Mississippi State (71-76) and Iowa State (56-75) before returning to Frost Arena. The Jackrabbits hosted Montana State and beat them 78-49 before returning to the road.  They suffered their third road loss against Creighton, 55-76. The Jackrabbits traveled south and forced a split in the Gulf Coast Showcase where they lost to UMass (63-81) and beat UCLA (76-66) before their game against Charlotte was canceled. Before returning to Frost Arena, SDSU traveled to Northern Iowa where they fell 50-59. Upon their return to Frost, they fell to Missouri State (52-55) and Kansas State (73-79). Before heading into conference play, the beat Dakota Wesleyan 90-43. Their first conference game was against Kansas City, who fell to the Jackrabbits, 85-78. SDSU won their second conference game against Oral Roberts, 71-51. They then hosted North Dakota State and beat them 77-60 to give them a 3-0 conference record.

NEXT UP

Following Saturday afternoon's game, the University of North Dakota returns to the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center to host the Omaha Mavericks on Thursday, Jan. 6.  The tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.