HOUSTON, Texas -- The Fighting Sioux bounced back from its late loss to Utah Valley earlier in the week by shutting out the other 2009 Great West Conference Championship finalist, Houston Baptist, for a 2-0 victory on Saturday. The win improved UND to 2-1 in Great West Conference play.

"This was a great win for our program," UND head coach Kristen Gay said. "HBU is a great team and we played even with them in the first half and came out and finished the second half."

A scoreless first half saw UND trail in total shots 9-3, but senior keeper Monica Stierman (Mahtomedi, Minn.) had a great day by keeping HBU's scoring chances out of the net. 

The second period saw more of the same from the Huskies as they outshot the Sioux 8-5, but it was the Sioux taking advantage of its chances and scoring first at 47:58. Senior forward Alex Zarling (Fargo, N.D.) sent it past HBU keeper Shelby Horn with an assist from junior forward Rachael Loomis (Fargo, N.D.).

UND would score again when Loomis put a goal in the back of the net at 67:41. An unassisted goal, Loomis found open space in the upper left section of the net.

"Loomis and Alex (Zarling) put shots away and Monica kept us in the game today," Gay said. "This truly was an all-out team effort. I'm so proud of our girls and how we responded to being on the road this weekend."

Freshman midfielder Courtney Beckwith (Henderson, Nev.) led the Sioux with two shots on goal.  Stierman saved four shots in each half to finish with eight saves.

The Sioux will be back in Grand Forks this weekend taking on Utah Valley at 3 p.m on Friday and then Houston Baptist at 11:30 p.m. on Sunday.