GRAND FORKS, N.D. ? The University of North Dakota women's basketball team closed out its first year of Division I with not only a win, but a tournament championship. The 93-71 victory over Seattle University in the championship game of the 2009 UND Spring Thaw Women's Basketball Tournament helped the Fighting Sioux finish the season on a six game winning streak.
With the win, UND concluded the season with an 18-11 record and an unblemished 13-0 mark at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. Seattle dropped to 20-9 on the year.
Unselfishness was the key to success for the Sioux as four players finished in double-digits and the team combined for 26 assists.
In her final game in a Sioux jersey, senior F Kierah Kimbrough (Greenbush, Minn.) topped all players with a 30-point, 10-rebound double-double ? the 29th of her career. She shot 12-for-20 from the field and finished a strong 6-for-8 from the charity stripe.
She was joined on the high-scoring list by junior G Kayla Bagaason (Clearbrook, Minn.) who finished with 23 points to notch the second 20-point finish of her career. She added seven rebounds, six assists, and was 5-for-5 from the free throw line.
Junior G Alys Seay (Grand Forks, N.D.) came away with 16 points after hitting the 100th free throw of her career. She was 7-for-10 from the bonus line and 4-for-6 from the field.
Senior G Danye Guinn (St. Francis, Minn.) rounded out the Sioux scoring with 11 points on 3-for-5 shooting from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 mark from the charity stripe.
Junior G Jossy Bergan (Valley City, N.D.) tallied a career-high nine assists.
Four Redhawks also closed the year with double-figure finishes. Chelsie Morrison led the Red and Black with 22 points and six rebounds. Elle Kerfoot and Breanna Salley both finished with 16 points and Cassidy Murillo came away with 12 points.
North Dakota out-shot Seattle 53.4 (31-for-58) percent to 32.8 (22-for-67) percent from the field and 83.3 (25-for-30) percent to 76.2 (16-for-21) percent from the free throw line. The Redhawks held the advantage from behind the arc where they were 11-for-31 (.355) compared to UND's 5-for-18 (.278).
Rebounds were also a factor as the Sioux came away with 42 boards and SU just 33. The largest margin was in defensive rebounds where UND held a 28-14 advantage.
Named to the all-tournament team was North Dakota's Danye Guinn and Kayla Bagaason. The two Sioux players were joined by Seattle's Chelsie Morrison and Bridget Yoerger of South Dakota. UND's Kierah Kimbrough was the named the tournament's most outstanding player.
-GoSioux!-
NOTES: Kimbrough is now tied with Amy Mahlum (2002-06) in the No. 5 spot on UND's list of all-time games played ... Guinn is now listed at No. 21 on UND's all-time scoring list. She surpassed Tracey Pudenz (1990-94) ... This marked the sixth time in the program's history that the Sioux have finished undefeated at home.
