MOSCOW, Idaho-- Idaho snapped North Dakota's seven-game winning streak with a 74-61 Big Sky Conference win Saturday afternoon at the Cowan Spectrum. The loss puts a three-way tie atop the league standings at 11-2 with Northern Colorado and Montana State with five games to play.
Sophomore Grace Sawatzke had a career-best 11 points off the bench for UND in the loss. Bailey Strand led all UND scorers with 12 on 4-of-5 from three-point range while senior Leah Szabla chipped in nine points, six rebounds, four steals and an assist off the bench.
Idaho was paced by Mikayla Ferentz's game-high 27 points, part of three Vandals in double figures (Pierce- 17, Wilson 16).
"Idaho took it to us," UND head coach Travis Brewster admitted after his team's lengthy road winning streak in league play ended. "It was a result from our practice the day before. I will make some adjustments for our next series of games.
"The group that played the final seven minutes for us really competed, they showed we're not done yet. This team has done a tremendous job on the road. A three-way tie for first place is a good position to be in with five games left. It will be good to play at home again."
UND held just one lead at 2-0 before Idaho rattled off 10 straight points and never looked back. It was a six-point lead after the first quarter and an 11-point edge at halftime for the Vandals.
Idaho (14-12, 8-5) watched its lead grow to as many as two dozen in the final quarter before North Dakota out-scored Idaho, 31-12 over the final 8:30 of the game.
Strand had a pair of threes in that stretch and the deficit narrowed down to 13 with two minutes left but Ferentz scored to answer to quell the momentum.
North Dakota heads into its final homestand of the season, beginning Thursday with a tilt against Idaho State. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.
Notes: Northern Colorado and UND each lost Saturday and Montana State won to put a three-way tie atop the Big Sky Conference standings at 11-2 … UND's last road loss in conference play was Jan. 14, 2016 at Montana State (12 straight wins before Saturday) .. Leah Szabla now stands at 957 career points heading into her final three home games of her career.
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