Box Score (PDF)

NEWARK, N.J. – Senior Marena Whittle tallied a double-double for the second consecutive game as the North Dakota State women's basketball team claimed a 64-59 victory over the NJIT Highlanders on Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 22, inside the Fleisher Athletic Center in downtown Newark.

Whittle, a native of Vermont South, Victoria, Australia, scored a game-high 24 points and pulled down a game-best 17 rebounds and added four steals to lead the Bison (4-8 overall) in the contest, while Taylor Thunstedt scored 23 points and went a career-best 8-of-10 at the free-throw line to go along with a team-high four assists.

North Dakota State shot 43 percent from the field for the game, going 22-for-51, and 33 percent from three-point range, making seven of 21 attempts. The Bison converted 13-of-16 free throws in the game for 81 percent.

NDSU outrebounded NJIT (3-8 overall), 29-26, and edged the Highlanders in points off turnovers, 17-16. The Bison also tallied 12 assists and nine steals in the game.

Ronni Grandison tallied 18 points to lead NJIT, while Leah Horton posted a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

The Highlanders shot 46 percent from the field and 27 percent from beyond the arc in the contest.

North Dakota State is idle until Monday, Dec. 28, when it is scheduled to host Cal State Fullerton at the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.