BROOKINGS, S.D. – The North Dakota State women's basketball team defeated South Dakota State, 78-71, to open Summit League play in front of 3,855 fans at Frost Arena on Saturday, Dec. 4.  The win snapped a 10-game losing streak to the Jackrabbits (3-4, 0-1 Summit).

Danielle DeGagne led four Bison (4-3, 1-0 Summit) in double figures, scoring a career-high 24 points, including 14 in the first half. Katie Birkel added 21 points, while Abby Plucker and Hannah Linz scored 15 and 12 points, respectively.  Jennie Sunnarborg led the Jacks with 20 points.

The Bison took a 9-8 lead at the 15:25 mark of the first half on a layup by Megan Shea.  NDSU extended its lead to seven twice before SDSU tied the score at 22-22 on a Macie Michelson three-pointer.

NDSU then went on a 12-0 run, beginning with a trey from Plucker and holding the Jacks scoreless for just over three minutes.  The Bison went up by double-digits twice more in the half before Sunnarborg scored the final five points of the first period to cut the score to 39-34.  NDSU finished the half shooting 61.5 percent (16 for 26) from the field.

The second half saw the Bison take a 10-point lead on a layup from Shea, but South Dakota State continued to chip away and finally tied the game on a free throw from Kristin Rotert with 3:03 remaining.

Plucker responded immediately with a jumper that put the Bison up for good.  As South Dakota State resorted to fouling, NDSU went 11-14 from the free throw line in the final 1:37 to seal the win.

NDSU finished the game shooting 26 for 48, good for 54.2 percent and the team's highest percentage of the year.  SDSU shot 42.6 percent (26 for 61).  The home side held a 35-28 edge in rebounding.

The Bison will host Mayville State Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Bison Sports Arena before traveling to Duquesne on Dec. 12.