DALLAS, Texas - The SMU Mustangs (4-4) used a +19 rebound effort to overcome a 10-point halftime deficit as the University of North Dakota (7-3) fell at Moody Coliseum, 66-51.

Though the UND defense finished with a season-best 14 blocks, its work on the defensive glass fell through as SMU finished with 64 rebounds, including 29 on the offensive glass. Melissa Leet led the Fighting Hawks with 15 points, six rebounds and career-high seven blocks. Alaina Jarnot tallied 10 points and six boards.

"We talked about boxing this team out and worked on it all week, and that was the tale of the game. We were too focused on shooting the basketball and trying to score," said Head Coach Travis Brewster. "When you don't box out, losses like tonight are what's going to happen. That's a sign of our youth: not knowing how important that part of the game is. The loss is hard to swallow, but we'll get back to work. These are all correctable things."

With the Mustangs and the Hawks trading early baskets, UND held an 11-8 advantage at the first media break after a 6-0 run and held that edge throughout the first half. Another 6-0 run by the Fighting Hawks in the final minute of the half put North Dakota on top of SMU, 29-19.

The UND defense held the Mustangs to a 20-percent field goal percentage and only eight field goals in the opening 20 minutes. Southern Methodist hung in the game thanks to its work on the glass, outrebounding North Dakota, 28-22.

Leet tallied a pair of blocks in both the first and second quarters, closing the half with four blocks and seven points. Alaina finished with eight points in the half, hitting a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Hawks their 10-point edge.

SMU's advantage on the glass paid dividends in the second half as it opened the half on an 11-0 run to outscore North Dakota, 22-12. Though the Fighting Hawks kept the game within two possessions in the final three minutes of the game, the Mustangs continued that run in the fourth quarter as it built a double-digit lead late with a 25-10 scoring advantage.

UND will return to action Wednesday, Nov. 18, hosting Mayville State at The Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. Tipoff is slated at 7 p.m.