GRAND FORKS, N.D. North Dakota hosts Missouri Valley Conference foe Drake Thursday at noon at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center before opening Summit League play on December 29 at St. Thomas.
 
Watch the Hawks
All UND women's basketball games, home and away, can be heard on stations across the Home of Economy Fighting Hawks Radio Network, as well as through the iHeart Radio app, with Jack Michaels calling the action. Saturday's game can be heard on 100.3 FM (Cat Country).
 
A live stream of Friday's game can be found on the Midco Sports and the Summit League Network.
 
Follow the Hawks
Receive live updates during all UND women's basketball games by following @UNDwbasketball on Twitter. Fans can also follow the Fighting Hawks on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @UNDwbasketball as well as go to FightingHawks.com for up-to-the minute stories, stats and more.
 
Series History vs Drake
North Dakota and Drake met on the hardwood for the first time on January 25, 1976 with UND taking a 59-54 win in Des Moines, Iowa. The Fighting Hawks and Bulldogs have faced off eight times with Drake holding a 6-2 edge all-time. Drake took the most recent meeting, 99-91, at the Betty in 2016.
 
UND is 6-13 all-time against Missouri Valley Conference opponents. This will be the first MVC opponent the Hawks have faced since hosting Illinois State in the 2019-20 season.
 
Last Time Out: vs Mayville State
The Fighting Hawks fell 75-68 to Mayville State last Friday, ending a 36-game win streak over the Comets. Mayville State led for the majority of the contest after taking a 22-14 lead after the first quarter. UND began to chip away at the lead with a 7-0 run with a minute remaining in the contest, but were unable to knock down a three-pointer in the final minute of play, while the Comets went 4-for-6 from the free throw line to close out the win.
 
Kacie Boroiwcz posted 16 points in her first game back since Nov. 25 to go with new season highs in rebounds with nine and assists with seven. Fatima Ibrahim had a new career high 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting in her 15 minutes of action. NoDak won the rebounding battle, 55-37, and had 15 second chance points off 19 offensive boards.
 
Boards and Buckets
Kiera Pemberton is one of three freshmen in the NCAA to average over 8.5 points per game, over 6.5 rebounds per game and shoot over .550 from the field. She has been one of the most efficient scoring options for the Fighting Hawks so for this season with a .600 shooting percentage for 8.8 points per game. The freshmen from Langley, B.C. has reached double-digit scoring in each of her last three games and converted .750 percent of her field goal attempts over the last four contests.
 
Pemberton played a season-high 28 minutes against Eastern Michigan and turned in a 13-point and seven-rebound performance against the Eagles. She went a perfect 6-for-6 from the field with 12 points in the win over Minot State.
 
Pemberton has shot over .750 percent in four games this season, including the game against Grand Canyon where she posted her first career double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds on 7-for-9 shooting.
 
Blocked By Ibrahim
Fatima Ibrahim has made her presence felt in the paint over her last two games totaling six blocks against Minot State and Eastern Illinois. Ibrahim rejected two shots against the Beavers to go with six points and five rebounds.
 
Ibrahim's four blocks against Eastern Illinois is the most by a Fighting Hawk since the 2021-22 season when Melissa Leet swatted nine Oral Roberts shot attempts in a 53-34 victory. The freshman center also grabbed three boards against the Panthers.
 
For more information on North Dakota women's basketball, follow on social media @UNDwbasketball or visit FightingHawks.com.