CEDAR FALLS, Iowa-- Northern Iowa fended off a late North Dakota surge to prevail, 64-60, in non-conference action at the McLeod Center Tuesday night. UND trailed by nine with four minutes left and trimmed the deficit to just two in the closing seconds before the Panthers hung on. 

Senior Lexi Klabo again led the Fighting Hawks (2-5) with 21 points, seven rebounds and four blocked shots. Freshman Jaclyn Jarnot provided a boost off the bench with eight points on two made threes to go along with three boards and a block in 14 minutes of action as the UND bench was forced into action after three players fouled out. 

"This team has learned not to quit and this team has learned to execute better through the middle parts of games," UND head coach Travis Brewster said. "If we can play that intense defense for four quarters and continue to run the floor like we did in the fourth, it's going to be an exciting year for us. Another big night for Lexi, playing through double and triple teams. We need to continue to find ways to manufacture other points. Looking forward to playing at home in front of our fans."

It was an intense, back-and-forth battle throughout with the lead changing hands 11 times in the contest, including all through the second quarter as both teams looked to grab a foothold of the game. Both teams' leading scorers led the play in the first half as Klabo and UNI's Karli Rucker each had seven quick points with the Panthers escaping the first with a slim 13-11 lead. In the second, it was tight on each possession until a 6-0 half-ending spurt by the home team gave UNI (5-3) a 30-25 advantage at the break.

In the third quarter, UND starter Mikayla Reinke fouled out, followed by two more Fighting Hawks players (Claire Orth, Jill Morton), forcing the UND bench to provide some deep minutes. Jaclyn Jarnot buried a pair of triples en route to eight points while Orth had a solid defensive effort in her 14 minutes before fouling out. The Panther edge grew to as many as 10 before UND rallied. With the score 55-46, UND embarked on a stretch that saw the score get within a single possession at 60-58. That 12-5 spurt was fueled by good defense creating chances. Jarnot's first three got it to a four-point game then later her corner three made it a two-point game with under a minute to go. 

Rucker answered on a tough take to the hole, finishing with a right-hand runner to push the lead back to four then Mikaela Morgan made four free throws in the final stages to help ice it. 

Three UNI (5-3) players finished in double figures, led by Morgan, who finished with 17 points, including 9-of-9 from the free throw line.

North Dakota will finally open its home schedule Friday with an 11:30 am tip against Milwaukee. 

Notes:
*Klabo has scored 20 points or more in four straight games. 
*She has led UND in scoring in all seven games this season. 
*She passed Madi Buck for 20th place on UND's all-time scoring list (1,244).
*J. Jarnot's eight points were a career high. 
*Orth;s five rebounds were a personal best. 
*The home team has won all seven meetings in the Division I history of this series.