Box Score FARGO, N.D.--Ashley Samuelson connected on all nine field goal attempts for a career-high 19 points as North Dakota State University pulled away from Ball State University to post a 65-57 victory in a women's college basketball game played before 1,581 in the Bison Sports Arena on Nov. 27.
North Dakota State (2-3) snapped a three-game losing streak with the win. The Bison host Denver University (1-2) at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29. Ball State (2-3) is scheduled to play at North Dakota (1-4) at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Samuelson, a 6-foot senior from Underwood, Minn., challenged the NDSU single-game record for field goal percentage set by Darci Steere at South Dakota State in 1994. She scored 13 of her career-high total in the second half.
Samuelson's layup thanks to a Jill Zaruba backdoor assist with 8:38 left put the Bison ahead 42-41 and started an 8-0 run. Samuelson and teammate Inger Hodgson both made three-point field goals.
Ball State could only cut the deficit to 48-46 with 5:43 left on Danielle Gratton's offensive rebound. Gratton had 13 points and 11 rebounds to lead three players in double-figures. Patrice King had 15 points, while Audrey McDonald added 13.
However, the Cardinals were limited to one shot at the bucket on most occasions down the stretch, and the Bison also hit 9 of 13 free throws in game's final three minutes.
North Dakota State led by as many as 10 points, 61-51 with 57 seconds left on a Hodgson four-point play. The Bison committed only three turnovers in the second half and finished with 16 for the game. BSU had 17 miscues.
Ball State led 28-26 at halftime. The game was tied nine times including on five occasions in the second half until Samuelson's outburst.
Katie Birkel finished with 11 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three assists for the Bison. Hodgson finished with 13 points.
NDSU connected on 48 percent from the field compared to 38.2 percent for the Cardinals. BSU held a 34-32 rebounding edge.