Box Score OMAHA, NEB. – The University of North Dakota flew past Omaha on Saturday afternoon with a 74-61 win.
The Fighting Hawks shot 42.4 percent from the field, 44.4 percent from the three, and 80.0 percent from the line. Comparatively, the Mavericks shot 35.9 percent from the field, 15.4 percent from the three-point line, and 61.1 percent from the line.
Olivia Lane led the Fighting Hawks with 16 points. She also secured ten rebounds to earn her second double-double of the road trip.
Kacie Borowicz followed with 15 points, five assists and four rebounds.
Maggie Manson ended the afternoon with 12 points, two rebounds and two assists.
Claire Orth was the final Fighting Hawk to end the afternoon in the double figures with 11 points. She secured to rebounds and two steals.
Rounding out the starting line-up was
Melissa Leet with five points, eight rebounds and two blocks.
Off the bench,
DJ Davis hit three three-pointers to end the afternoon with nine points and secured two rebounds.
Joli Daninger netted six points, had two steals and two rebounds.
The first quarter was a battle as the Fighting Hawks took the initial lead, but the Mavericks responded with consecutive baskets to take their first lead of the game. The back-and-forth battle for the lead continued until the Mavericks hit two baskets in a row to take a three-point lead (10-7) with 6:46 left to play in the quarter. It was the Fighting Hawks turn to score consecutive baskets to put them in the lead. Omaha hit the final shot of the quarter with 3:59 left in the first to give them the 13-11 lead. Both teams failed to score for the final four minutes and the lead remained with the Mavericks.
The Fighting Hawks tied it to start the second quarter. The Mavericks hit a free-throw to give them a one-point lead, but Borowicz helped UND retake the lead seconds later. Omaha retook the lead once more with a three from Kennedi Grant, but Daninger hit a basket to tie it once more and start the Fighting Hawks on a 14-0 run. The Mavericks scored one more free-throw in the quarter, but the Fighting Hawks added another basket to give them a 17-1 run. The North Dakota defense limited the Mavericks to five total points in the quarter, which led to them heading into intermission with a 32-18 lead.
The Mavericks were the first to net a basket in the third quarter, but Manson hit a three to continue to extend UND's lead. The teams traded baskets until the Fighting Hawks went on a 9-0 run to put them up by 20 (47-27) with 3:34 left in the third. The Mavericks continued to battle, but they were unable to overcome the Fighting Hawks who led 52-35 headed into the fourth quarter.
Elena Pilakouta scored the first five points of the fourth quarter to bring the Mavericks within 12, but Borowicz hit a jump shot to keep the Fighting Hawks in a double-digit lead (54-40). Both teams hit baskets to continue the fight. The Mavericks went on a 7-0 run late in the fourth quarter to bring it within seven (59-66) with 1:30 left in the game. The Fighting Hawks continued to attack their defense and went on a 5-0 run to give them a 74-61 win.
Mariah Murdie and Pilakouta led Omaha on offense with 17 points each. Murdie secured six rebounds, and Pilakouta secured nine.
North Dakota returns home to host the St. Thomas Tommies on Thursday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m.
