North Dakota State Athletics
14-12, 9-7
IPFW
13-15, 10-7
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota State | 35 | 37 | 72 |
| IPFW | 34 | 34 | 68 |
Free Throws, Birkel Lead North Dakota State to 72-68 Summit League Road Win at IPFW
2/22/2010 9:48:00 PM | Women's Basketball
FORT WAYNE, Ind.--Katie Birkel poured in a career-high 25 points and North Dakota State University made its last 10 free throws as the Bison defeated IPFW 72-68 in a Summit League women's basketball game played Monday, Feb. 22, before 251 spectators at the Hilliard Gates Sports Center.
North Dakota State (14-12, 9-7 Summit) is scheduled to host Western Illinois (10-17, 6-10 Summit) at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, in the Bison Sports Arena. The Fighting Leathernecks defeated Southern Utah 50-45 on Monday.
The Bison made their final 10 free throw attempts including eight in the game's final 32 seconds. Inger Hodgson made 6 of 6 and Birkel made a pair to keep IPFW (13-15, 10-7 Summit) at a distance down the stretch. NDSU made 20 of 23 from the foul line compared to 17 of 24 for the Mastodons.
Only four points separated the teams in the second half until Birkel drained a three-pointer with 2:14 left to give North Dakota State a 64-57 lead. The lead changed hands 11 times and game was tied on seven occasions.
IPFW kept the pressure on late led by Chelsey Jackson, who scored eight of her 19 points during the game's final minute. Jordan Zuppe hit a three-pointer, and Jackson made a layup and free throw to cut the deficit to 64-63 with 32 seconds remaining.
The Mastodons would cut the lead to one on its next two possessions on Jackson drives, but Hodgson and Birkel made the free throws in the two-shot bonus situtation.
North Dakota State held a commanding 53-36 rebounding advantage. Hodgson pulled down nine rebounds and Birkel grabbed eight boards -- both career-highs. The Bison had 24 second chance points off 27 offensive rebounds. The 53 rebounds were a season-high for NDSU.
IPFW hit 40.7 percent from the field compared to 30.4 percent for NDSU. Hodgson netted 12 of her 16 points in the second half, while Ashley Samuelson scored 14 points, grabbed seven rebounds and handed out four assists. Janae Burich scored 11 points and added six rebounds.
Anne Boese hit her first three treys of the game to get the Mastodons out to a fast start. Boese dropped in a team-high 23 points with 17 coming in the first half. Boese made 6 of 13 field goals overall, hitting 5 of 9 from the three-point line, and connected on all six free throw attempts. However, the Bison led 35-34 at halftime.
The Bison commited eight turnovers including only two in the second half and scored 17 points off 14 IPFW turnovers.
