QUICK JUMPERS

* North Dakota returns home to host St. Thomas. This is the second-to-last game at home for the Fighting Hawks.

*The Fighting Hawks head into Thursday's game with an overall record of 14-10 and a conference record of 8-5 after beating the Omaha Mavericks (74-61).

* Olivia Lane led the Fighting Hawks offense with 16 points against the Mavericks. She recorded her second double-double of the road trip securing ten rebounds.

*Lane reached a career-high in rebounds with her 17 against Denver. She currently sits fourth in the Summit League standings when it comes to rebounds. 

* Kacie Borowicz switched off with Olivia on the past road trip. She led the Hawks against Denver with 24 points and followed Lane against Omaha with 15 points.

* Melissa Leet is currently leading the Summit in blocks with an average of 2.0 per game and a total of 47 this season. She sits 34th in the nation for DI in blocks.

* Borowicz earned TicketSmarter Summit League Athlete of the Month in January with an average of 20.2 points per game in the month.

* North Dakota leads St. Thomas in the series 2-0.

* The Tommies currently sit at a 6-15 overall record. They are currently 3-8 for conference play.

* The Tommies' leading scorer is grad transfer, Erin Norling, with 13.9 points per game.

* The Tommies currently sit eighth in the Summit League standings. This is their first season in the conference.

* North Dakota is currently averaging 67.4 points per game, and they are averaging 38.8 rebounds per game.

 * The Fighting Hawks were ranked ninth in the Summit's Preseason Coaches' Poll. They currently sit fourth in the standings behind the Kansas City Roos.

 

ON TAP

The North Dakota Fighting Hawks return to the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center to host the latest addition to the Summit League, St. Thomas Tommies, on Thursday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m.

 

LAST TIME OUT

The University of North Dakota flew past the Omaha Mavericks 74-61 on Saturday afternoon. The first quarter was a battle as the Fighting Hawks took the initial lead, but the Mavericks responded with consecutive baskets to take their first lead of the game. The back-and-forth battle for the lead continued until the Mavericks hit two baskets in a row to take a three-point lead (10-7) with 6:46 left to play in the quarter. It was the Fighting Hawks turn to score consecutive baskets to put them in the lead, but Omaha hit the final shot of the quarter with 3:59 left in the first to give them the 13-11 lead. Both teams failed to score for the final minutes and the lead remained with the Mavericks. The Fighting Hawks tied it to start the second quarter. The Mavericks hit a free-throw to take the lead, but UND took it seconds later. Omaha retook the lead once more with a three from Kennedi Grant, but Daninger hit a basket to tie it once more and start the Fighting Hawks on a 14-0 run. Omaha scored one more free-throw in the quarter, but the Fighting Hawks added another basket to give them a 17-1 run. The North Dakota defense limited the Omaha to five points in the quarter, which led to them heading into intermission up 32-18. The Mavericks were the first to net a basket in the third quarter, but Manson hit a three to continue to extend UND's lead. The Fighting Hawks went on a 9-0 run to put them up by 20 (47-27) with 3:34 left in the third. The Mavericks continued to battle, but they were unable to overcome the Fighting Hawks who led 52-35 headed into the fourth. Elena Pilakouta scored the first five points of the fourth quarter to bring the Mavericks within 12, but Borowicz hit a jump shot to keep the Fighting Hawks in a double-digit lead (54-40). The Mavericks went on a 7-0 run late in the quarter to bring it within seven (59-66) with 1:30 left in the game. The Fighting Hawks continued to attack their defense and went on a 5-0 run to give them a 74-61 win.

ALL-TIME WITH ST. THOMAS

The University of North Dakota is beating St. Thomas in the series 2-0. The last time that the two teams played each other was on Jan. 15, 2022 at Schoenecker Arena, and the Fighting Hawks won 66-55.

LIV LANE IN THE LANES

Olivia Lane ended the weekend with two double-doubles. She led the Fighting Hawks on the board and on the boards with 16 points and ten rebounds against the Omaha Mavericks. Lane also dominated the paint in Denver with 12 points and a career-high 17 rebounds. She currently sits at 231 points this season and 163 rebounds (53 OFF/110 DEF) in the 20 games that she has played this season.

DJ DROPS TRIPLES

DJ Davis, a transfer from Dallas, Texas, dropped three straight three-pointers against the Omaha Mavericks on Saturday afternoon. Davis has made eight three-pointers this season and three of those were this on Saturday. She currently has 62 points this season. She started towards the beginning of the season, but she has since moved to being a valuable player off the bench player who averages 15.7 minutes per game.

 

SCOUTING ST. THOMAS

St. Thomas enters the game with an 6-8 overall record and a 3-1 conference record. The Tommies opened their season on the road against Wisconsin with a loss of 51-67. They then returned home to host Illinois State (55-70).  Their first win was on the road against South Carolina State, 65-50. They continued their road streak, but they fell to Presbyterian College (62-82), Cal Poly (51-63) and the University of North Texas (54-81). The Tommies returned to St. Paul and hosted Northern Iowa, but they were unable to secure a win and fell 62-102. They secured their second win against Chicago State, 62-57. The Tommies then rounded out their non-conference play with a split at home. They fell to Idaho State (57-67) and beat Northland College (92-19). Their first Summit League opponent was the Omaha Mavericks who beat the Tommies 61-55. Their first conference win was against Denver (56-48). The winning streak continued as they headed to Macomb, Ill. to play Western Illinois. The Tommies won in double overtime, 66-64. Their last game was against the North Dakota State Bison who they beat 73- 62. Against the University of North Dakota, the Tommies fell 55-66. The Tommies returned to the road where they lost to Oral Roberts (44-72), South Dakota State (47-88), and the University of South Dakota (43-70). They then returned home to host three straight and lost to Western Illinois (67-82), Kansas City (57-62), and Oral Roberts (67-53).

NEXT UP

Following Thursday night's game, the University of North Dakota remains at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center to host their final home game against Western Illinois on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 1 p.m.