LEXINGTON, K.Y. – The University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks (19-12) took home the win against the Northern Illinois Huskies (16-16), 102-99 (OT) .

This was the first overtime game of the season. Head Coach Mallory Bernhard notches her first winning season in her 3^rd season as head coach of the Fighting Hawks. This win is UND women's basketball first national postseason win in the Division I era.

Kacie Borowicz led with 35 points and six assists. She also drew ten fouls.

Claire Orth scored 19 points. Orth is 13 points away from 1,000 career points as a Hawk. She hit her fifth three of the season in the fourth quarter.

Juliet Gordon had 16 points and led with eight rebounds.

Joli Daninger had 11 points.

DJ Davis had her best game of the season. She had eight points, played 26 minutes, and went two for two from the line.

North Dakota started today's game off hungry. The Huskies drew blood first the Hawks would answer right back. These two teams traded baskets for the first four minutes of the game before UND would take their first lead of the game., 9-8. The game would be tied up again at 11, just a short two minutes later. Before DJ Davis would steal the ball with a pass to Gordon for the jumper just outside the paint, 13-11. North Dakota pulled away late in the first to end the quarter 21-13.

NIU's Grace Hunter took a three point jumper to start the quarter, which Borowicz would match a minute later to extend the lead back to eight. The Fighting Hawks battled hard to tie the game four successive times at 28, 30,32, and 34. They would take a one point lead into the locker room, 38-37.

The Northern Illinois Huskies came out strong in the third quarter going on a 6-0 run to start the stanza. The Hawks kept the game close fighting back from a eight point deficit. However, they would be down six heading into the final ten minutes of regulation.

The Fighting Hawks flew back late in the fourth quarter, when Claire Orth would make her fifth three point basket of the season to give North Dakota the 83-81 led. This was the first time UND pulled away since halftime. However, Gordon would take a foul on A'Jah Davis would drop both from the line to tie it up at 83. Orth than converted a layup to take the lead. Following that, with 40 seconds left Orth sent Chelby Koker to the line who would make both to send the game into overtime at 85 aside.  

In the thirty first game of the season, brought the Fighting Hawks a new challenge, overtime. They shot a scolding 80% from the floor. Two veterans, Gordon and Davis, led the offensive with five points apiece. Gordon also led the way with one rebound and one crucial steal in the extra frame. Borowicz capped off her 35-point performance with a go-ahead layup and followed by a successful free throw to give UND 100 points. She would than add one more made free throw followed by a made foul shot by Gordon to give the Hawks some insurance. Final score 102-99.

Head Coach Mallory Bernhard had this to say on tonight's win: "We played excellent first and fourth quarters and ultimately you want to start and finish well. A lot of players stepped up today at key moments. Claire shook off an unlucky start offensively and stayed the course to give us a lift. Juliet's toughness was on full display today. Sammiyah hit some big baskets and pounded the glass when we needed someone to. Joli and DJ scored crucial buckets late in tie game and Kacie played possibly one of her best games of the year today. As a program we need to learn how to play in a playoff or post season environment and today we had the fight, intensity and want to that is required at this time of year."
 
North Dakota will play tomorrow against Florida International University at 1:30 central time. The game will be on Prepspin.com and Jack Michaels will have the call on CAT 103.3.
 
Postgame Notes

• Borowicz has her 17^th 20+ game of the season
• This is the second highest scoring game in WBI history and the first to hit 100+ in OT
• Borowicz is tied for fourth for most points scored in a single game at the WBI
• UND first post season win in DI era
• Bernhard first wining season as a Head Coach

 
 
How It Happened

• Q1: UND 21 – NIU 13
• Q2: UND 38 – NIU 37
• Q3: UND 57 – NIU 63
• Q4: UND 85 – NIU 85
• OT: UND 102 – NIU 99