GRAND FORKS, N.D. – A career-high 27 points from Kiera Pemberton powered the North Dakota women's basketball team to a 76-62 win over Kansas City Saturday in the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.
 
Pemberton found the bottom of the net efficiently and in a variety of ways, on the fast break, in the paint and from deep as she knocked down her first three-point basket in the green and white. She finished her day going 8-for-13 on field goal attempts and 10-for-11 from the free throw line.
 
Pemberton poured in nine of the Fighting Hawks' first 11 points of the second quarter, as they extended their lead to 28-23 following an and-one from Pemberton. UND was red-hot to begin the quarter, going 8-for-9 from the field in the first five minutes of the frame. UND shot .647 percent from the field, without a three-point attempt, in the second with 20 points in the paint. The Roos tied the game at 36-36 with 2:23 left in the half, but the Hawks closed out the first 20 minutes strong with a 6-0 run to take a 42-36 edge at the intermission.
 
After a slow start from both teams in the third quarter, the Hawks' offense started to roll. NoDak grabbed its first double-digit lead of the game after a 7-3 run with 1:14 left in the third quarter. Mikayla Aumer capped off the run, and gave UND a 56-45 lead, after an and-one bucket. After giving up 10 offensive rebounds in the first half and 12 second chance points, the Fighting Hawks dug in on the boards and allowed just one offensive rebound in the second half.
 
Kansas City's work in the paint and on the offensive glass helped stay within single digits of the Hawks during their second quarter run. Kansas City corralled 19 rebounds in the first half, with 10 off the offensive glass for 12 second chance points. The Roos defensive pressure turned the Hawks over 13 times for 10 points off turnovers in the first half. However, the Hawks cleaned up the offensive in the final two quarters by committing just six turnovers.  
 
The Hawks grabbed their largest lead of the night, 73-54, on seven straight points from Pemberton, who capped off her run with her first career trey. UND lead dipped into single-digits briefly at the start of the fourth quarter, but four points from Pemberton and Kiyah Hurst brought the score back to double-figures.
 
After a 2-0 week at the Betty, the Hawks will hit the road for games against Oral Roberts on Thursday and Denver on Saturday.
 
Postgame Notes 

• Kiera Pemberton set new career-highs with 27 points, eight made field goals and 10 free throws
• Pemberton scored in double-figures for the fourth straight game
• UND is now 5-6 at the Betty this season and 2-2 in Summit League play
• The Hawks controlled the rebounding battle 46-35
• NoDak scored 38 of its 76 points in the paint
• Kacie Borowicz hit double-digits points for the 12th time and two or more steals for the seventh time
• Borowicz led the Hawks in rebounding for the second straight game with seven
• UND tied a season-high with 26 made free throws, a mark they hit in a 78-72 win over Idaho State
• Four Hawks scored in double-digits in Pemberton, Borowicz, Kiyah Hurst and Sammiyah Hoskin
• North Dakota held its third straight opponent to a .350 percent or lower shooting percentage
• The Hawks are now 6-1 when holding a lead at halftime

  
How It Happened 
Q1: UND 19, KC 17
Q2: UND 42, KC 36
Q3: UND 58, KC 47
Q4: UND 76, KC 62

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