North Dakota State Athletics
12-10, 7-5
Southern Utah
6-16, 4-7
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Utah | 18 | 26 | 44 |
| North Dakota State | 39 | 34 | 73 |
Opportunity Knocks North Dakota State Turns Back Southern Utah 73-44
2/6/2010 6:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
FARGO, N.D.--North Dakota State University scored 35 points off turnovers and hit nine three-pointers as the Bison defeated Southern Utah University 73-44 in a Summit League women's basketball played Saturday, Feb. 6, before 1,271 spectators in the Bison Sports Arena. The game was part of the WBCA's Pink Zone nationwide breast cancer awareness initiative.
North Dakota State (12-10, 7-5 Summit) is scheduled to host UMKC (11-11, 8-3 Summit) at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8. The Kangaroos lost 76-47 at South Dakota State on Saturday. The Bison are 8-3 at home this season, 4-2 in league play.
The Bison didn't sprint out of the gate, but Southern Utah (6-17, 4-7 Summit) had only one field goal in the game's first 11 minutes. NDSU took advantage. SUU shot only 29.3 percent from the field and committed 24 turnovers overall.
By that time North Dakota State built a 20-3 lead with 9:14 remaining on Danielle DeGagne's old-fashioned three-point play -- a layup off a pass from Ashley Samuelson and made free throw. DeGagne finished with a career-high nine points.
Katie Birkel scored all 11 of her points including a pair of three-pointers in the first half as the Bison built a 39-18 lead at the intermission. The Bison didn't allow any points off turnovers and had 13 miscues overall.
Inger Hodgson picked up the offensive pace in the second, netting all 13 of game-high points. Hodgson made 3 of 4 three-pointers as the Bison made 9 of 25 overall compared to 2 of 15 for Southern Utah.
Southern Utah did put a dent in the NDSU lead midway in the final period. Caitlyn Sears made a layup that cut the deficit to 46-33 with 10:12 left. Sears led the Thunderbirds with 10 points, while freshman Chanel Thorley snared a career-high 11 rebounds.
However, North Dakota State scored 12 answered points to put the game out of reach. Janae Burich and DeGagne each hit layups, while Whitney Trecker and Hodgson each nailed three-pointers.
The Bison made 42.2 percent from the field, but the Thunderbirds held a 46-40 rebounding edge. NDSU made 10 of 14 free throws compared to 8 of 16 for Southern Utah.
As part of the WBCA Pink Zone, NDSU head coach Carolyn DeHoff and State Farm agent Jill Henning each donated $100 for every Bison three-pointer made. The proceeds will be given to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund.
