LARAMIE, Wyo. – The North Dakota women's basketball team fell in its season opening game, 77-60, to Wyoming (1-0) at Arena-Auditorium.  
 
UND (0-1) stuck with the Cowgirls through three quarters, and outscored UW 21-19 in the third quarter to pull within four points. Wyoming would pull away in the fourth quarter by outscoring the Hawks 20-7 and holding UND to 3-of-16 shooting over the final 10 minutes. 
 
Kacie Borowicz poured in a game high 29 points on an efficient 11-of-17 shooting and went 6-for-8 from the free throw line. Rakiyah Beal joined Borowicz in double figures with 12 points and nearly had a double-double with nine rebounds.
 
Borowicz scored on the Hawks first possession and had the team's first seven points, picking up right where she left from off last season. Trailing 17-7 near the end of the first quarter, a DJ Davis three-pointer started a 14-4 run that carried over into the second period. Five different Hawks scored during the run as they tied the game at 21. Wyoming built their lead back up to eight, however, UND answered with seven points in just over a minute to pull within one. Borowicz beat the buzzer to end the half, but it was the Cowgirls who held a 38-32 lead.
 
NoDak outscored the Cowgirls 21-19 in the third quarter and were led by Borowicz's 10 points and Beal's six. UND cut the deficit to under two points multiple times and tied the score twice in the third. Wyoming, however, would answer each of the Hawks runs to hold onto the advantage.

"Today was exactly the kind of game we needed. Wyoming is a really tough team and one that executes at a very high level," said head coach Mallory Bernhard. "We were tested and for three quarters we had it in us to fight back. We will be able to take a lot away from this game both good and bad. It was not the result we hoped for, but a game that was good for a young team like ours to build off of."
 
North Dakota returns to action Saturday for their home opener against Grand Canyon at 7 p.m. in the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.
 
Postgame Notes 

• Kacie Borowicz has scored in double figures in seven straight games dating back to last season
• Both teams made 14 trips to the free throw line with UND converting 10 and UW connecting on all 14
• UND scored 12 points off 12 Wyoming turnovers
• The Hawks outscored UW 21-19 in the third quarter and went 9-for-14 (.643) from the field
• Wyoming scored 48 points in the paint

  
How It Happened 
Q1: UW 19, UND 14
Q2: UW 38, UND 32
Q3: UW 57, UND 53
Q4: UW 77, UND 60

For more information on North Dakota women's basketball, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDwbasketball.