Box Score ST. PAUL, MINN. – The University of North Dakota flew past the St. Thomas Tommies for a 66-55 win on Saturday afternoon at Schoenecker Arena. This win is the fourth in a row for the Fighting Hawks.  

North Dakota shot 47.5 percent from the field, 31.3 percent from the three-point line, and 100.0 percent from the free-throw line. Comparatively, the Tommies shot 33.8 percent from the field, 22.7 percent from the three, and 66.7 percent from the line.

Melissa Leet led the Fighting Hawks with a new single game career high of 22 points. She secured eight rebounds and three blocks.

Kacie Borowicz netted 19 points, had two assists, and secured one steal.

Olivia Lane ended the afternoon with a double-double. She netted 17 points and secured 13 rebounds. She also picked up two steals and had one block.

Maggie Manson ended the game with six points, three assists, and two rebounds.

Claire Orth rounded out the starting five with two points, three rebounds, and two assists.

The Tommies took the lead early in the first with a three from Erin Norling, but Leet responded with a jumper on the next possession. Borowicz hit a floater to give the Fighting Hawks a 4-3 lead with 7:34 left in the quarter. The run continued as Lane netted a layup, but Jade Hill put a stop to it with a bucket to keep the Tommies within one. The Hawks and Tommies traded points as the first quarter continued. North Dakota ended the quarter up by seven (19-12).

North Dakota started the second quarter with back-to-back baskets, but Maggie Negaard stepped up and hit a three to put the Tommies on the board. The second quarter was a continuous battle of back-and-forth baskets between the teams. The Tommies brought it within five with 4:02 left to play, but Leet hit a jumper to extend the Hawks' lead. As the half started to wind down, Lane hit a jumper and converted a three-point play to start the Hawks on a 9-2 run to end the half. North Dakota led 41-27 as they headed into the intermission.

Coming out of the locker room, both teams hit a bucket within the first minute, but they both struggled to score again until Borowicz hit a shot with 7:41 left. As the quarter continued, the teams continued to match each other. At the end of the third quarter, the teams were again unable to score from 3:24 until the last second of the third, which is when Lane hit a layup to put the Hawks up 53-37.

The Fighting Hawks were the first to net a basket again as the fourth quarter started. Manson hit a three, but Jade Hill responded on the next possession. This was not enough to push the Tommies into continuous action as the Fighting Hawks scored back-to-back to continue to add to their lead. The rest of the quarter, North Dakota continued to attack the Tommies and received responses from them. St. Thomas went on a 7-0 run late in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough as the Fighting Hawks beat them 66-55.  

Hill led the Tommies on with 19 points. Sammy Opichka followed behind her with nine points, seven rebounds, and two blocks.  

North Dakota returns home to face Oral Roberts on Thursday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m.