Box Score

FARGO, N.D. – Junior Brooke LeMar scored 21 points, eclipsing the 20-point threshold for the fourth time this season, but it wasn't enough, as the NDSU women's basketball team (3-8) fell to Mississippi State (11-1) Tuesday evening inside the Bison Sports Arena, 72-62.

The Bison fell behind 4-0 early after Mississippi State's Dominique Dillingham hit a jump shot two minutes into the game. NDSU responded, though, taking its first lead of the game, 10-8, with 13:57 remaining in the opening half after LeMar converted a layup.

The two teams would trade leads the remainder of the half, with neither team able to gain more than a four-point edge.

LeMar drilled a jumper with six seconds remaining in the stanza, allowing NDSU to pull within one of the Bulldogs going into halftime, 32-31.

The Bulldogs opened the second half on an 11-2 run, taking a 43-34 lead at the 16:21 mark after a layup from Breanna Richardson, forcing an NDSU timeout.

The Bison cut the deficit to six, 43-37, with 15:22 remaining in the half after sophomore Marena Whittle converted a jump shot, was fouled and made the bonus free throw to complete the old-fashioned three-point play, but Mississippi State answered, taking an 11-point lead after a pair of made free-throws from Kendra Grant with 11:51 on the clock.  

NDSU clawed back to within single digits on three occasions the remainder of the half, but couldn't get any closer, leading to the 72-62 setback.

The Bison shot 38 percent from the field in the game, going 23-for-60, but were just 4-for-17 (24 percent) from three-point range. NDSU made 12-of-15 free throws attempted for 80 percent.

LeMar paced NDSU in scoring, tallying 21 points on 9-for-18 shooting. Whittle scored 17 points while fellow sophomore Kahla Becken tallied 10 to round out the Bison in double-figures.

Martha Alwal led Mississippi State, scoring a game-high 25 points, with 19 of her 25 occurring in the second half.

NDSU is idle until December 28-29, when it travels to San Antonio, Texas, to take part in the UTSA Holiday Classic. The Bison will face the host UTSA Roadrunners Saturday, Dec. 28, before battling Northwestern State (La.) on Sunday, Dec. 29.

Saturday's game will be aired live on KFGO 790-AM while Sunday's will be on KVOX 740-AM "The Fan."