QUICK JUMPERS

* North Dakota continues the homestand at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center hosting three more home games in the next week.

*The Fighting Hawks beat Oral Roberts 53-34 on Thursday, Jan. 20 to improve to an overall record of 11-8 and a 5-3 conference record.

*The Fighting Hawks played a strong defensive game against the Golden Eagles and limited them to a season low of 34 points.

* The Fighting Hawks had three players end in double figures against Oral Roberts.

* Kacie Borowicz led the Fighting Hawks with 21 points and six rebounds.

* Claire Orth followed with 13 points, five rebounds, and two blocks.

* Olivia Lane ended the evening netting 11 points and securing six rebounds.

* Melissa Leet recorded a new career high in blocks with nine against the Golden Eagles. She sits as the leader in the Summit League with an average of 2.1 per game.

* Kacie Borowicz earned Summit League TicketSmarter Player of the Week. She scored 52 points between the two games played this past week. She currently sits as the second leading scorer in the Summit as she averages 18.3 points per game.

* Kansas City currently leads the series, 1-0.

* The Kansas City Roos currently sit at a 13-4 overall record. They are currently 3-3 for conference play due to a few postponements. 

* North Dakota is currently averaging 66.9 points per game, and they are averaging 38.4 rebounds per game.

 * The Fighting Hawks were ranked ninth in the Summit's Preseason Coaches' Poll. They currently sit third in the standings after beating Oral Roberts.

 

ON TAP

The North Dakota Fighting Hawks return to the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center to host the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles. Opening tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 20.

 

LAST TIME OUT

The University of North Dakota beat the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles 53-34 on Thursday evening. The Fighting Hawks took the lead from the initial tip with points from Lane and Leet to put them up 3-0 before the Golden Eagles responded with a three to tie the game. North Dakota extended the lead by going on a 7-0 run before the Golden Eagles hit a layup with 5:12 left to go. The teams traded baskets, but North Dakota went into the second up by four (14-10). North Dakota started the second quarter with a basket from Orth. The teams would fail to score again until there was 7:48 left in the quarter, which is when Oral Roberts hit a basket to put them within five. The Fighting Hawks responded with an 8-0 run to put them up by double figures (24-11). The Golden Eagles would hit back-to-back baskets as the half ended, but they would not be able to bring it within single digits as the Fighting Hawks led 26-16 going into the intermission. Coming out of the locker room, the Fighting Hawks continued to attack as Lane buried a layup and Borowicz dropped a three to give them the first five points of the half. North Dakota led at the end of the third quarter, 41-24. The Fighting Hawks started the fourth quarter with momentum as Manson hit a three within the first 15 seconds to continue to extend their lead. Lane hit two free throws to give them the first five points yet again, but the Golden Eagles turned and went on a 9-0 run towards the middle of the quarter to bring them within 13 (46-33). Borowicz stopped the run with a jumper at 2:31 to continue to extend the Hawks' lead. Oral Roberts efforts would not be enough to overcome the Hawks as they won 53-34.

 

ALL-TIME WITH KANSAS CITY

The University of North Dakota is trailing Kansas City in the series 1-0. The last time that the two teams played each other was the first time the teams had faced each other in their histories. The Fighting Hawks fell to the Roos at they Betty Engelstad Sioux Center in overtime 67-71 on Jan. 2, 2021.

NEW SEASON, NEW GOALS

Despite being chosen ninth in the 2021, Summit League preseason poll, the Fighting Hawks enter the contest with a 5-3 conference record to place them third in the standings. This has been a turnaround from last season where North Dakota's conference record was 2-13. Coach Bernhard has mentioned that key players, like Kacie Borowicz, who averages 18.3 points per game, and consistently working on the small things has helped them progress to where they stand heading into this Saturday. The Fighting Hawks are currently averaging 66.9 points per game and have had at least three Fighting Hawks finish in double figures in their last five wins. Defense was also a factor in the wins, especially against Oral Roberts, who they limited to their season low of 34 points.

LEET SAYS YEET

Melissa Leet may not have put up her usual point average on Thursday night, but she made up for it in blocks. Leet ended the evening with nine blocks against the Golden Eagles. She currently leads the Summit in blocks with an average of 2.1 per game. 

 

SCOUTING KANSAS CITY

Kansas City enters the game with a 13-4 overall record and a 3-3 conference record. The Roos opened their season on the road with a 63-75 loss against SMU. The Roos then returned home to face Southern Illinois (67-46), Wyoming (53-44), and Grand Canyon (89-62), which prompted them to start a winning streak. They traveled to Dixie State and beat them 76-62. The Roos then went 2-0 in the UNLV Classic against Grambling State (78-55) and UT Arlington (85-76). They returned home and secured two more wins against Haskell Indian Nations (95-38) and Baker (93-44). The winning continued against Tennessee State (74-70) and Santa Clara (69-62).  Their first conference game was against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits who they lost to 78-85. They then hosted the South Dakota Coyotes and lost 57-67. Their Dec. 30 game against Omaha was postponed along with their Jan. 1 game against Denver.  The Roos continued to have the next games against Western Illinois and St. Thomas postponed. They finally returned to action against Omaha with a 73-64 win. They traveled to Tulsa next to face Oral Roberts and lost 66-77. They turned around and beat Denver (77-68) and North Dakota State (67-62). 

NEXT UP

Following Saturday night's game, the University of North Dakota remains at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center against South Dakota State on Jan. 27. The tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.