GRAND FORKS, N.D. – A comeback effort from the North Dakota women's basketball team fell short Sunday against Montana State in the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. The Fighting Hawks surged in the third quarter but would ultimately fall 60-53 to the Bobcats.
 
It was all Bobcats to start the game, as they scored the first 12 points of the contest in the opening three minutes. Montana State shot .600 percent from the field and grabbed a 20-8 lead following the first 10 minutes. NoDak's offensive woes continued in the second quarter and was held to 18 points in the first half. However, the UND defense began to settle in and held the Bobcats to a .313 shooting percentage in the second frame.
 
UND ramped up its defensive pressure in the third quarter, forcing seven Montana State turnovers that translated to six points. Kacie Borowicz led the Hawks with six points in the quarter, but it was the bench unit that provided the offensive spark with 13 points. Kiyah Hurst scored five, while Nevaeh Ferrara Horne and Kiera Pemberton had four points each in the third. UND outscored Montana State 19-4 to open the third and took its first lead of the game, 37-36, following two Ferrara Horne free throws at the two-minute mark.
 
The lead changed hands twice and the score was tied twice in the fourth quarter, but it was the Bobcats who held the lead for the final three minutes to take the 60-53 decision. Borowicz poured in 12 of the Hawks 14 points in the fourth quarter and went 4-for-5 from the free throw line. Rakiyah Beal scored the other two points for UND. The Hawks forced five turnovers in the final period, while only committing one but were unable to convert Bobcat miscues to points. Montana State controlled the boards over the final 10 minutes with 12 defensive rebounds.
 
Borowicz scored 22 points, grabbed five rebounds and had four steals to lead the Hawks. She was followed by Hurst's seven points and nine rebounds.
 
Sammiyah Hoskin and Pemberton were active on the offensive glass grabbing a combined seven offensive rebounds.
 
The Fighting Hawks travel to Hattiesburg, Miss. for the Lady Eagle Thanksgiving Classic Friday and Saturday. UND faces Southern Miss on Friday at 11:00 a.m. and North Texas on Saturday at 8:00 a.m.
 
Postgame Notes 

• With the result, North Dakota still holds a winning record over Montana State at the Betty, 6-4
• The rebounding battle was even at 42 boards each
• This was UND's first game decided by single-digit points
• The Hawks have had a different leading rebounder in three of four their four games
• Borowicz scored 20+ points for the ninth time in her last 10 games
• UND held Montana State to 2-of-15 shooting in the third quarter

How It Happened 
Q1: MSU 20, UND 8
Q2: MSU 32, UND 18
Q3: MSU 40, UND 39
Q4: MSU 60, UND 53

For more information on North Dakota women's basketball, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDwbasketball.