DENVER, Colo. – The North Dakota women's basketball team erupted for 31 third quarter points on a .706 shooting percentage on its way to a 78-68 road win over Denver Saturday.
 
In a tale of two halves, the Fighting Hawks doubled up their first half point total of 27 in the third quarter. North Dakota totaled 31 points in the third frame and took its first lead of the night after Kiera Pemberton's bucket a minute into the quarter. The Hawks were red-hot out of the locker room and were a perfect 8-for-8 from the field at the under-five media timeout and finished the quarter 12-of-17. Pemberton scored eight of UND's first 12 points, and Kacie Borowicz scored the next seven as the Hawks took a 46-37 lead with 4:35 on the clock. NoDak carried a 16-point lead, 58-42, into the final quarter after a 12-2 run that featured seven points from Mikayla Aumer and five from Kiyah Hurst.
 
Four Hawks reached double-figures with Borowicz and Hurst pouring in 19 each, Pemberton with 14 and Aumer with 13 off the bench. Hurst also notched her second double-double of the season with 12 rebounds, while Pemberton hit double-digit points in just 18 minutes.
 
Hurst carried the third quarter momentum into the fourth by opening it with her second three-pointer of the day, and put UND up 19, which was its largest lead of the day. The Hawks held the Pioneers at bay for the majority of the quarter, with their advantage briefly dipping into single digits late in the game. The Hawks answered Denver's late baskets and went 5-for-6 from the free throw line in the final two minutes to secure the 10-point victory.
 
The Fighting Hawks struggled to find the bottom of the net in the first quarter, scoring 10 points in the opening frame on 4-of-16 shooting. The Hawks scored nine of their 10 points on extra possessions with nine second chance points on four offensive rebounds. Denver shot .462 percent from the field and knocked down 4-of-9 attempts from deep. Borowicz cut the DU lead to six heading into the second quarter after connecting on her first three-pointer of the game with 25 seconds left.
 
Denver extended their advantage to double digits for the first time, 25-14, early in the second quarter. The Hawks answered with six straight points, from three different players, to force a Pioneers timeout. UND outscored Denver 13-5 over the final seven minutes, to pull within three heading into the halftime intermission. NoDak continued to attack the offensive glass in the second quarter with nine second chance points on six offensive boards. Kiyah Hurst and Borowicz combined for 10 total rebounds and seven offensive boards in the opening 20 minutes.
 
The Fighting Hawks return to the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center next Saturday to host St. Thomas at 1:00 p.m.
 
Postgame Notes 

• North Dakota earned its first Summit League road win and move to 3-3 in conference play
• UND had the advantage in paint points 42-20 and bench points 22-6
• Mikayla Aumer set a new career-high with 13 points
• Kiyah Hurst recorded her second double-double of the season
• Kacie Borowicz has now scored 10 or more points in 10 straight games
• Kiera Pemberton shot over .700 percent from the field for the sixth time
• Todday's win was UND's first win when trailing at halftime
• UND is now 7-2 when winning the rebounding battle
• UND has grabbed 40 or more boards in four straight games
• Four players scored double-digit points, the fifth time that's happened this season

  
How It Happened 
Q1: DEN 16, UND 19
Q2: DEN 30, UND 27
Q3: UND 57, DEN 42
Q4: UND 78, DEN 68

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