GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of North Dakota (6-6) fell to North Dakota State (5-6), 67-61, on Wednesday night.

Kacie Borowicz led UND on offense scoring 25 points and narrowly missed a double-double with seven rebounds and four assists.

Olivia Lane earned a double-double scoring 13 points and securing 11 rebounds, while recording one block.

DJ Davis assisted off the bench with eight points and two assists.

Maggie Manson scored six points and secured two rebounds.

Melissa Leet led the defense with 10 rebounds and three blocks.

The Fighting Hawks finished the afternoon shooting 47.8 percent from inside the arch, 46.7 percent from the three, and 83.3 percent from the line. The Bison shot 40.6 percent from the field, 26.7 percent beyond the arch, and 70.0 percent from the line.

North Dakota State took the initial lead going 4-0 until North Dakota's Lane scored two free throws with 7:31 left in the first. The Bison would continue to attack the Fighting Hawk's offense to put them up 9-4 in the middle of the first. After adjusting to their defense, UND brought it within one with 4:48, but NDSU's Reneya Hopkins scored a jumper to extend the lead. The teams then started trading buckets, but NDSU maintained the lead 18-15 headed into the second.

Starting the second quarter, the teams traded points, but Lane and Manson would score three points each to give UND their first lead of the game with 7:45 left in the second. Seconds later, Heaven Hamling scored back-to-back baskets to give the Bison a 26-23 lead, but Manson would tie it with her second three of the night in the middle of the quarter. The Bison extended the lead with a 7-0 run before Davis stepped into the game and scored to stop the run and give the Fighting Hawks a 5-0 run to end the half down two (33-31).

Both teams remained scoreless until 8:37 left in the third quarter when Borowicz scored a layup to tie the game. She then went on to score a jump shot, which gave UND a 35-33 lead early in the quarter. It became a back-and-forth battle as the teams tied three times before UND extended the lead to 45-42 with 2:42 left in the third. The Bison continued to chip away and went on a 9-0 run to give them a 51-45 lead headed into the fourth.

NDSU continued their run with a quick jumper from Ryan Cobbins, but Borowicz scored a three seconds later to end it. The Fighting Hawks and Bison traded baskets until Borowicz scored a three and a jumper in the middle of the fourth to bring them within three. Cobbins scored a quick jumper for NDSU, but Borowicz scored a jumper seconds later to put the Hawks down by two (63-61) with 1:33 left in the game. The Bison went on a 4-0 run to end the game 67-61.

Heaven Hamling led NDSU with 17 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Cobbins finished in double-digits with 15 points and three rebounds.

North Dakota will travel to South Dakota to play their last game of 2021 against the Coyotes on Thursday, Dec. 30 at 7 p.m.