MACOMB, Ill. - Recording a fast start and showing its dexterity behind the arc with 10 three-pointers, the University of North Dakota (14-11, 5-7 Summit) could not overcome Western Illinois' (14-12, 8-5 Summit) furious first half as the Leathernecks downed UND, 91-74.

Four Hawks scored in double figures led by Lilly Keplin's 14 points that included four treys, while Jaclyn Jarnot and Julia Fleecs scored 13 points. Jaclyn also pulled down 13 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. Kacie Borowicz finished with 12 points as well. North Dakota finished +10 on the boards as well (43-33).

The Fighting Hawks opened with a fiery poise on both ends of the floor, boxing out the Leathernecks and knocking down shots to open the game on an 8-0 run with a 3-of-4 clip from the field. However, the Leathernecks responded with an 8-0 of its own to rally their troops to a 26-18 lead after the first.

That same gusto that Western Illinois performed with at the end of the first resulted in another big run that resulted in a 20-point lead 13:11 into the contest, resulting in a Travis Brewster calling a timeout.

To that point, North Dakota had turned the ball over 10 times and allowed Western Illinois to score 18 points off those turnovers.

Jaclyn Jarnot and Megan Zander were the Fighting Hawks left and right fist on the attack, combining for 14 of UND's final 18 points in the half to close the margin at the break, 48-33. As a result, Jaclyn finished the half with a  game-high 12 points and nine rebounds.

The UND defense responded with eight-consecutive stops under Western Illinois' basket but was unable to find a rhythm offensively before the media timeout. After the break, the Hawks offense found its footing as Lilly Keplin scored 11 points in the third quarter alone as she knocked down three treys and a floater in the lane as time expired in the third.

That final shot closed the gap to eight entering the last period, 67-59, as North Dakota went 10-of-17 from the field in the period.

While Keplin once again lifted the Fighting Hawks to within seven early in the fourth, 11 North Dakota personal fouls in the fourth quarter equated to 11 points at the free-throw line and 21 total in the second half on 29 trips.

"You look at where we're at right now with our record, and that's without Melissa Leet in the lineup. There are some things we have to do better, but I'm proud of what this group has accomplished and in some of the things we saw tonight," said Brewster in the postgame.

The University of North Dakota will return to action Thursday, Feb. 20, when it hosts I-29 rival South Dakota State at The Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. The two teams will tip at 7 p.m.