Grand Forks, N.D. – Behind four double-figure performances combined with a stellar showing at the free throw line and dominant rebounding, the North Dakota women's basketball team took down Wyoming on Friday afternoon, 65-45, for the first win under head coach Dennis Hutter.
 
Walker Demers led the offensive with 16 points, nine rebounds and two blocks as Ava Miller followed close behind with 14 points, six rebounds and a block. Mackenzie Hughes went a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe enroute to her 13 points with six assists and Mikayla Aumer added in 10 points after going 6-for-7 from the free throw line.
 
The Fighting Hawks shot 47.8 percent from the floor—their highest such mark of the season—while the Cowgirls held a 29.0 percent on the day. UND dominated its opponent from the free throw line, going 16-for-19 while Wyoming only attempted eight such shots, and held the 40-29 advantage on rebounding.
 
With a raucous crowd of elementary students screaming in the stands, North Dakota exploded out to a 9-2 lead midway through the first quarter for its most convincing start of the season. Demers took control and scored the first seven points for UND until Ava Miller cashed in on a layup. Hughes followed suit and added in two free throws and a driving bucket to help the home team take the 13-8 lead at the first quarter break.
 
It was five straight points from the Hawks to open up the second quarter, and they all came off the hot hand of Aumer as she collected the and-1 shot and an additional two free throws 30 seconds later. The lead hit double figures for the first time but after a quick exchange of shots in the paint and a 7-2 run from Wyoming, it was now a 22-19 game with under two minutes remaining. The two teams traded blows and the three-point difference remained as North Dakota held the 26-23 lead heading into the locker room.
 
A 7-2 run featuring a triple from Ava Miller and a perfect appearance at the free throw line from Kendra Harvey opened up a 37-28 game, but the lead would stay within single digits. Neither team could make much of a run and there always seemed to be an answer for the others' scoring.
 
Until the fourth quarter.
 
With the 45-38 lead heading into the final quarter, North Dakota went on to shoot 60% from the field and drop 20 points in the fourth while holding Wyoming to 14.3 percent and only seven points.
 
Only three total points were scored between the two teams through the first three minutes of action. Until Aumer, Hughes, Demers and London Harris teamed up and created eight straight unanswered points for the 16-point lead. The Fighting Hawks would only give up two more Cowgirl buckets and closed the fourth quarter with nine straight points for the 65-45 victory.
 
Postgame Notes 

• Friday marked the first UND win under head coach Dennis Hutter
• North Dakota is now 2-4 all-time against Wyoming
• The last UND victory over the Cowgirls came in 2022 in Grand Forks
• It is the third time this season that multiples Hawks have reached double figures, but is the first that four have done so
• The Fighting Hawks were a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line through the first half
• NoDak dominated in the paint with 34 points and pulled 12 points off the bench

  
How It Happened 
Q1: North Dakota 13, Wyoming 8
Q2: North Dakota 26, Wyoming 23
Q3: North Dakota 45, Wyoming 38
Q4: North Dakota 65, Wyoming 45
 
Up Next
North Dakota is set to get a little tropical as the team heads to the U.S. Virgin Islands for the 2025 Paradise Jam. The Fighting Hawks will first face Boise State in the Harbor Tournament on Thanksgiving Day at 2 p.m. CT before a second game on Friday against either Elon or Tulane.  

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