GRAND FORKS, N.D. - The University of North Dakota (2-16, 2-10 Summit) overcame a 13-point second-quarter deficit to hang within one and two possessions of South Dakota (11-5, 7-2 Summit) for the final three periods. Despite their opportunities, the Fighting Hawks could not get over the hump as they fell to the Coyotes, 72-63.

The Fighting Hawks shot a season-high 52-percent on the night with a 26-for-50 clip, including a 6-for-18 three-point shooting performance. North Dakota dished 18 assists on those 26 field goals as well; its best performance since recording 19 in the season-opener versus Marquette.

Claire Orth registered a season-high 13 points and five assists to control the Hawks transition offense to go along with her defensive prowess in the game. Megan Zander was the game's leading scorer with 17 points, finishing 6-of-9 from the field with a 3-for-5 clip behind the three-point line. Jaclyn Jarnot nearly recorded her fourth double-double in the last five games with 13 points and nine rebounds. Mikayla Reinke also dished five assists.

The Fighting Hawks spotted South Dakota 11-consecutive points to start the contest before a Juliet Gordon trey kicked the party off at The Betty. UND opened the second quarter with a 13-point deficit and steadily climbed out of the hole, getting stops and showcasing precision shooting with a 9-for-14 clip (.643) in the period. UND closed the period on a 12-3 run – including six points from Olivia Lane that featured a pair of reverse layups under the basket – to make it a four-point game at halftime, 34-30.

The Yotes came out of the halftime locker room with an intense focus, expecting to push the Fighting Hawks around, but the spirited Hawks pushed right back. Of the Coyotes' four six-point leads in the third quarter, North Dakota closed the gap to one-point twice in the quarter alone.

That trend continued in the fourth as Zander rallied the troops euro-stepping her way to the basket and through the crowded paint to stoke a fire in the UND bench. Though North Dakota paid for it with three players fouling out, the Fighting Hawk defense stymied Hannah Sjerven as the senior fouled out and fell below her season averages.

Though UND tried to take the lead, turnovers and missed free throws proved costly in pivotal moments as it was unable to tie or take the lead despite being down by one point on two occasions and one basket seven times.

The University of North Dakota and South Dakota will close the series tomorrow afternoon at The Betty Engelstad Sioux Center at noon. Reinke and Julia Fleecs will be honored in Senior Day festivities before tipoff.

GAME NOTES: UND shot 52-percent in the game, its first time shooting over 50-percent this season … The last time North Dakota shot 50-percent or better and lost was on March 20, 2016, versus Weber State in the second round of the WBI … The Fighting Hawks were .594 from the field in the final three-quarters of play … South Dakota is currently second in The Summit League Standings with a 7-2 record.