NDSU Women’s Basketball Falls to Northwestern State in UTSA Holiday Classic, 57-50

Sunday, December 29

San Antonio, Texas

12 p.m.

North Dakota State Athletics

3-10

Northwestern State

7-5

Team	1	2	F
North Dakota State	27	23	50
Northwestern State	26	31	57

Photo by: Richard Svaleson

NDSU Women’s Basketball Falls to Northwestern State in UTSA Holiday Classic, 57-50

12/29/2013 2:06:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The NDSU Bison women's basketball team (3-10) fell to the Northwestern State Lady Demons (7-5), 57-50, in the UTSA Holiday Classic in San Antonio Sunday afternoon.

The first half saw the Bison jump out to a 7-0 lead in the first three minutes. Holly Johnson started the early run, draining a three about a minute into the game, before Kahla Becken and Alisa Brown both nailed jump shots to extend the NDSU advantage.

Northwestern State responded though, going on a 7-2 run to pull within 12-9 with 12:03 remaining in the opening half.
Brown extended the Bison lead back to five, 19-14, after she drilled a three with 8:17 remaining, but the Lady Demons answered, trimming the lead to two, 22-20, with 4:25 to go in the half.

Northwestern State took its first lead of the game with 42 seconds remaining, 26-25, but the Bison quickly regained the advantage after a Marena Whittle jumper at the 28 second mark. NDSU went into halftime leading, 27-26.

The Bison were 10-for-30 (33 percent) from the field and 3-for-9 (33 percent) from three in the opening stanza. NDSU made 4-of-6 from the free throw line for 67 percent.

Brown led the Bison in the first half, scoring a career-high eight points on 3-for-4 shooting.

The Lady Demons went 10-for-32 (31 percent) from the field and 3-for-9 (33 percent) from long range in half number one. Northwestern State was 3-for-4 from the charity stripe for 75 percent.

Keisha Lee led the Lady Demons, scoring 14 points.

The Bison increased their advantage to five, 33-28, at the beginning of the second half after a Johnson layup at the 17:16 mark, but Northwestern State quickly responded, taking a 36-35 lead with 15:05 to go in the second stanza.

The Northwestern State lead grew to six, 41-35, at the 13:49 mark, but back-to-back threes from Bree Whatman and Johnson allowed the Bison to tie the game at 41 with 11:53 remaining in the second half.

The Lady Demons pushed the advantage back to five, 46-41, with 9:14 to play. Brown buried a three to pull NDSU within 46-44 with 7:53 on the clock, however, Northwestern State increased its lead back to seven, 53-46, with 5:10 remaining.

NDSU again cut into the lead, pulling within 53-50 after a pair of back-to-back fastbreak layups from Brooke LeMar and Becken with 2:21 to go, but the Lady Demons responded, drilling a three with 1:06 remaining in the second half to extend the lead back to six, 56-50.

The Lady Demons would maintain the lead the final two minutes to claim victory.

NDSU was led by Johnson with 13 points. Brown scored a career-best 11 points while Whittle also reached double figures, scoring 10 points, respectively.

The Bison were 19-for-60 (32 percent) from the field but just 6-for-20 (30 percent) from three in the contest. NDSU made 6-of-8 foul shots for 75 percent.

Northwestern State was paced by Lee, who scored a game-high 22 points.

The Lady Demons were 20-for-61 (33 percent) from the field and 6-for-13 (46 percent) from long range. Northwestern State went 11-of-14 from the free throw line for 79 percent.

NDSU returns to action Thursday, Jan. 2, when it hosts Northern Colorado at the Bison Sports Arena beginning at 7 p.m.