North Dakota State
3-3, 1-0Summit
Centenary
1-7, 0-2Summit
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centenary | 22 | 18 | 40 |
| North Dakota State | 46 | 41 | 87 |
12/6/2008 6:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
FARGO, N.D.--North Dakota State University scored the first 20 points of the game and shot a season-high 56.7 percent from the field in an 87-40 win over Centenary College in the Summit League women's basketball opener played Saturday, Dec. 6, before 855 spectators in the Bison Sports Arena.
North Dakota State (1-0 Summit, 3-3) is scheduled to host Oral Roberts (0-0 Summit, 5-2) at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8. The Golden Eagles (0-1 Summit, 5-3) lost 76-52 at South Dakota State on Saturday.
Inger Hodgson led the Bison with a game- and career-high 19 points that included a career best 5 of 6 from the three-point line. Hodgson, a junior guard from Barneveld, Wis., led a group of four NDSU players in double-figures. She also finished a career best five steals.
The 40 points allowed is the least allowed in Summit League play by North Dakota State. The previous low by an opponent was 42 points by Western Illinois last season.
Six different North Dakota State players scored during the 20-0 run in the game's first 5:19 including Hodgson, who nailed two of her five three-pointers. Nicole Vigil and Katie Birkel also hit three-balls during the run.
Centenary (0-1 Summit, 1-7) didn't hit the scoreboard until 14:41 left on a Anne Farrell free throw attempt. The Ladies missed their first seven field goal attempts until Chelsea Johnson buried a three-pointer with 13:19 remaining.
However, CC kept battling back and trimmed the Bison advantage to 24-13 as Ashley Jackson found Farrell inside for a layup with 6:48 left in the first half. The Ladies hit only 22.2 percent from the field, committed 23 turnovers and were outrebounded 36-26.
North Dakota State stepped on the gas and closed with a 22-9 run to take a 46-22 halftime lead. The Bison shot 61.5 percent in the first half and 56.6 percent overall. That included a 8 of 13 showing from the three-point line for 61.5 percent. NDSU was also 19 of 22 from the foul line for 86.4 percent. All three shooting figures were season highs.
Abby Plucker scored 13 of her 17 points in the second half as the Bison weren't threatened. Plucker pulled down a career-high nine rebounds. Birkel had 13 points, a season-high eight assists, six rebounds and four steals.
New Orleans' native Skye Smith turned in her best Bison performance to date with 15 points, hitting 5 of 7 from the field and 5 of 6 free throws. Jerri Penley didn't have a field goal for NDSU, but connected on a career best 8 of 8 from the charity stripe.
Jasmine Bothwell came off the bench to score 10 points to lead Centenary. She was the only player scoring in double figures for the Ladies.
