FARGO, N.D.--Abby Plucker scored a game-high 15 points and North Dakota State University turned 25 turnovers into 25 points as the Bison defeated the University of Mary 67-52 in a women's basketball exhibition game played Monday, Nov. 3, before 812 spectators in the Bison Sports Arena.

North Dakota State is scheduled to host the University of Minnesota-Crookston in another exhibition game at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, in the Bison Sports Arena. NDSU entertains Northern Iowa at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, in the regular season opener.

Plucker, a 5-foot-11 sophomore from Parker, S.D., led a group of four Bison players in double-figures. Inger Hodgson knocked down 14 points, Katie Birkel finished with 11 points and six rebounds, and Jill Zaruba came off the bench to net 10 points.

Neither team could gain the upperhand in the first half. Kayla Rogers connected on a three-pointer with 4:56 left to put the Marauders ahead 23-21 and gave the visitors their last lead of the game.

A pair of free throws from Birkel, back-to-back buckets by Zaruba and a Hodgson three-pointer put the Bison ahead 30-25 at halftime. The big defensive play was turned in by Ashley Samuelson, who drew a charge right before the intermission to wipe out a Mary basket.

North Dakota State gradually pulled away in the second half. A Plucker jumper put the Bison ahead 43-32 with 13:56 left to play. NDSU's biggest lead was 21 points, 67-46, with 1:30 remaining.

Mary was paced by Liz Simpa's 10 points and five rebounds.

NDSU shot 42.3 percent from the field compared to 40.4 percent by the Marauders as both teams hit 7 of 19 from the three-point line. Mary held a 39-31 rebound advantage led by Kylie Messer's six rebounds.

The Bison committed just 12 turnovers and came up with 14 steals. Plucker, Birkel and Zaruba each finished with three steals.