GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Despite a choppy and aggressive man-to-man defensive effort by Omaha and injuries across the lineup, the University of North Dakota improved to 3-0 in The Summit League as it defeated the Mavericks, 63-57.

With starters Melissa Leet and Mikayla Reinke out, UND pulled Aly VanLoo's redshirt, and the freshman closed the night with eight points, six rebounds, two assists, and a block. Kacie Borowicz led the Fighting Hawks with 15 points and was one of three double-digit scorers with Julia Fleecs (10) and Megan Zander (12) joining rank.

Stepping in after the first media break, VanLoo quickly made an impact in the lineup, recording the Fighting Hawks first assist of the night as she posted up and kicked back out to Zander outside of the arc.

The post was North Dakota's method of attack in the second quarter as it took 12 of its 16 shots in the paint. The Fighting Hawks scored 14 points under the basket, including 10 in the second period. The black and blue, man-to-man style favored UND as it drew 16 fouls in the half that included Lilly Keplin taking an offensive charge.

UND's first shot outside the paint came with 2:43 left in the half as Alaina Jarnot drained a step-back jumper behind the arc to give the Hawks their first double-digit lead, 28-16. That figure held at halftime as North Dakota led the Mavericks at halftime, 32-20.

The Mavericks pressure forced UND into one-on-one offensive situations, disrupting the Fighting Hawks rhythm, which resulted in only seven North Dakota assists during the contest. However, North Dakota adapted in the third as it took a 20-point lead (49-29) with 3:10 left in the quarter.

The Mavericks rallied back to a two-possession game with 1:03 on the clock after a desperation three fell following a Borowicz baseline jumper. UND held serve as the defense responded and Borowicz iced the game with a pair of free throws.

Claire Orth, who's been the defensive rock for the Hawks all season, closed the contest with a well-rounded four points, four rebounds, four steals and a team-best three assists in 32 minutes.  

North Dakota will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 11, in the first game of a doubleheader with the men's team at Oral Roberts. The Fighting Hawks will tip at 2 p.m., followed by the men at 7 p.m.

GAME NOTES:
The win over Omaha was North Dakota's 12th win of the season, matching the program's win totals each of the last two seasons ... This was the fourth-straight game that Megan Zander scored in double figures and the sixth time in 2019-20 ... North Dakota's seven assists were the fewest by the team this season ... Aly VanLoo made her first appearance for the Fighting Hawks in the team's 16th game ... The UND lineup featured only one senior and one junior ... All 10 players in the lineup scored in the contest ... North Dakota out-rebounded Omaha, 41-38 ... Each team committed 21 turnovers, but UND outscored the Mavericks off takeaways, 17-10.