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FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State University women's basketball team (1-1) used a strong second-half to claim an 88-68 win over the College of St. Mary Flames (2-1) on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 15, inside the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.

Sophomore Taylor Thunstedt led five Bison in double figures with a career-high 23 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the field, while senior Marena Whittle tallied 18 points. Junior Emily Spier netted 17 points, a career-high, and fellow junior Brianna Jones chipped in 14. Sophomore Brooke Yaggie rounded out the Bison in double figures, tallying 10 points.

Spier and Jones snagged a game-high nine rebounds each to lead NDSU on the boards, while Thunstedt dished out five assists. Spier also added three blocks, and Thunstedt, Whittle and Jones posted three steals each.

With the game tied at 48 and 4:43 remaining in the third-quarter, Yaggie converted a fastbreak layup, sparking a 13-4 run that gave the Bison a 61-52 advantage after Jones converted a free-throw with eight seconds to go in the frame. 

The Flames got within eight after a three-pointer with 9:34 to go in the fourth-quarter, but that was as close as they'd get the remainder of the contest, as freshman Kennedy Childers drilled a three to put the Bison up 66-55 a few seconds later. North Dakota State extended its lead to 19 after Spier converted a jumper at the 6:01 mark and led by 21 when Yaggie hit a pair of free throws with 1:54 to go.

NDSU shot 57 percent from the field in the second-half, going 16-for-28, and were 6-of-9 from three-point range for an impressive 67 percent.

The Bison posted a 37-34 edge on the boards in the contest and scored 24 points off 20 College of St. Mary turnovers. NDSU also tallied a 26-18 advantage in points in the paint.

North Dakota State is scheduled to host Valley City State on Thursday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m. at the BBF.