GRAND FORKS, N.D. - After trailing by 13 halfway through the third quarter, the University of North Dakota (14-13, 5-9 Summit) tied North Dakota State (9-17, 6-8 Summit) in the final period but could not counterpunch the Bison's onslaught at the free-throw line and the lone three-point of the quarter as UND fell, 82-74.

Freshman Megan Zander scored a season-high 20 points with eight rebounds while Julia Fleecs added 17 points. Rylee Nudell, who hit the go-ahead three after Jaclyn Jarnot's game-tying layup, led NDSU with 18 points alongside Sofia Zivaljevic.

North Dakota got out to fast start with a 7-0 run with Hawks frontcourt - Fleecs, Jaclyn Jarnot, and Melissa Leet - controlling the space around the rim. After the media break, the Bison made their run with an 11-4 scoring rally to end the first period with a 19-17 lead.

Capitalizing on the pick and roll, NDSU extended its lead in the second quarter as it posted a 67-percent performance from the field. However, the combination of Fleecs and Zander gave flight back to the Fighting Hawks as a pair of baskets by Zander at the end of the half, including a steal that led to a fast-break layup, rallied UND into the halftime locker room.

"(NDSU was) doing the same stuff we were, but they played a little more physical. They ran their iso ball screens the whole game, and they were times where I thought we handled it okay, and there were other times we didn't, and those were times when we were flustered. We need to stay relaxed in that state," said Head Coach Travis Brewster.

With both teams scoring 16 field goals in the half, the Bison held the advantage behind the arc (4-1) and at the free-throw line (6-1). However, North Dakota State was less than efficient at the charity stripe shooting 6-for-12. Fleecs tallied 12 points on six baskets to lead UND while Gaislerova recorded 13.

The Bison built their lead to 13 with 4:51 remaining in the third quarter; however, the North Dakota defense only allowed two points in that final stretch to go on a 13-2 run and make it a two-point game entering the third after Claire Orth hit a layup at the buzzer, 60-58.

Jaclyn opened the fourth quarter with the game-tying basket, but NDSU's Nudell immediately responded with a trey to rally the Bison, who went on to attack the basket and make 23 trips to the free-throw line in the final quarter. Though were a paltry 23-for-39 in the game and 13-for-23 in the fourth, NDSU's effort was good enough as it pushed the game out of reach of UND.

Alaina Jarnot, who was honored before the game for Senior Day, closed her final contest at The Betty with four points and eight assists. Jaclyn recorded eight points and eight rebounds while Claire Orth also tallied eight points.

The Fighting Hawks will return to action on Thursday, Feb. 27, when it takes on Omaha at Baxter Arena in Omaha, Neb.