Grand Forks, N.D. – Despite a strong defensive showing and three players in double figures, the University of North Dakota women's basketball team fell short of a comeback against Youngstown State on Friday evening, falling 65-58 inside the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.
 
Walker Demers led the offense with 15 points—including 11 in the first quarter—to go with her nine rebounds. Mikayla Aumer dropped in 13 points with three triples and a perfect 4-of-4 showing at the free throw line while Ava Miller cleared the glass with 15 rebounds and 10 points for her first career double-double. Sydney Piekny also tied her career-high with nine points—all 3-pointers—and Mackenzie Hughes dished out a team-high five assists.
 
The Fighting Hawks shot 32.2 percent from the floor but went 92.3 percent (12-for-13) from the free throw line. On the other side of the court, Youngstown State was 36.7 percent from the floor and 72.2 percent (13-of-18) from the charity stripe. UND outrebounded by a margin of 41-39 and forced 11 turnovers in the effort.
 
Early free throws and a jumper from YSU opened up the game at 3-0 but North Dakota immediately swung back with 11 straight points to take control. Demers lit it up in the paint with four layups and continued to show strength with two free throws to help keep the momentum during that stretch. Back-and-forth baskets kept it at an eight-point game until five straight from the Penguins forced an 18-15 UND advantage at the first quarter break.
 
A 9-0 run from NoDak—capped by a triple from Aumer—put the lead into double figures for the first time on the night. Every time Youngstown State attempted to piece together multiple baskets, the Fighting Hawks stood firmly in the way defensively while also adding in strong offense of their own. Aumer's second 3-pointer of the quarter made it a 32-21 game but the score would sit at 32-25 heading into the locker room.
 
Those final five points in the half were just a mere glimpse into the absolute momentum shift that happened in the third quarter. The Penguins hit the first jumper of the new half until the Fighting Hawks stormed back with eight unanswered points off three baskets to push ahead at 40-27. Until the YSU shooting lit up. Over the next two minutes, Youngstown State rattled off 16 points to explode ahead at 43-40. Free throws from London Harris tightened the differential, but the visitors continued to push and eventually held the 49-45 lead heading into the final quarter.
 
North Dakota ignited with three straight triples in just over a minute to open the fourth and take back control at 54-49. But two jumpers and a trip to the free throw line gave the visitors control once again. The game tied up at 55 apiece, but a 10-3 run over the final two minutes of competition closed the game at 65-58.
 
Postgame Notes 

• UND is now 0-1 all-time against Youngstown State
• Ava Miller collected her first career double-double behind a career-high 15 rebounds
• Three Fighting Hawks finished in double figures
• NoDak now moves to an 0-2 start for the first time since 2023-24
• Sydney Piekny tied her career-high of nine points
• The Hawks only missed one free throw all night
• UND still put on an impressive defensive showing and outrebounded its opponent 41-39

  
How It Happened 
Q1: UND 19, YSU 15
Q2: UND 32, YSU 25
Q3: UND 45, YSU 49
Q4: UND 58, YSU 65
 
Up Next
North Dakota returns to the road for a Tuesday night battle at Green Bay. Game time is currently set for 6 p.m. in Wisconsin.   

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