GRAND FORKS, N.D.-- Visiting Western Illinois, despite being undersized, tallied 52 points in the paint to run past North Dakota, 92-80, Sunday afternoon at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center in Summit League play. WIU broke a halftime tie at 32 by taking it to the rim continuously, scoring 33 in the third quarter to take command of the game. 

Senior Lexi Klabo paced the Fighting Hawks with 27 points and 11 rebounds. She tied the school record for career free throw makes, equaling the mark set back in 2008 by Ashley Langen. Jill Morton added 12 points and Claire Orth chipped in 11 off the bench for UND. 

Olivia Kaufmann led all scorers with 28 points, part of five players in double figures for Western Illinois. 

"It was bad defense, no other way I could put it," UND head coach Travis Brewster said. "You work on trying to keep people in front and cut people off and you've got to have a little moxie about yourself. The other part about it is you have got to rebound the ball better. We've got to do a better job, we've got to get after it this week and correct some things. All is not lost, but we've got to turn around and get ourselves ready to go but this one is going to sting."

That third-quarter surge saw Western Illinois knockdown 11 of 15 shots from the floor, seven of those on makes in the paint through penetration to the rim. Olivia Kaufmann and Taylor Higginbotham combined for 17 points in thst frame alone and the Leathernecks built a lead as large as 18 early in the fourth. 

North Dakota didn't wilt, though, charging back with 10 consecutive points after that 18-point deficit. It started with a Lexi Klabo bucket. The senior was back in the lineup after missing her first career game Wednesday with an injury. She responded to the tune of 27 points, 11 rebounds and three assists Sunday. 

Klabo and Kaufmann traded baskets in the middle portions of that fourth quarter with Kaufmann answering each Klabo make. With the deficit at eight, WIU got a Danni Nichols jumper then layups by Higginbotham and Annabel Graettinger to all but put it out of reach. 

UND owned the lead early, staking itself to a 19-13 advantage on an Alaina Jarnot triple early in the second quarter. The Leathernecks were able to tie the score before halftime and the teams went to the break all square at 32-32. 

North Dakota (8-10, 3-2 Summit) continues its homestand next week when it hosts preseason league favorite South Dakota State Friday evening at the Betty. 

NOTES
*Klabo registered her sixth double-double of the season and 26th of her career. 
*North Dakota suffered its first home conference loss of the season (2-1). 
*Claire Orth's 11 points marked a new career high.