Box Score (PDF)

FARGO, N.D. – The Western Illinois University women's basketball team used a big second half to defeat North Dakota State, 94-82, in the 10th annual Katherine Burgum Classic on Thursday, Jan. 21, in front of 523 spectators inside the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.

The Bison (5-15 overall, 0-7 Summit League) led 38-31 at halftime, but were outscored in the second half, 63-44.

Sophomore Taylor Thunstedt led NDSU in scoring with 23 points, while junior Emily Spier (17 points, 12 rebounds) and senior Marena Whittle (16 points, 14 rebounds) both tallied double-doubles. Sophomore Brooke Yaggie added 12 points, rounding out the double-figure scoring for the Bison.

Western Illinois (11-8 overall, 4-2 Summit League) was led by Emily Clemens' game-high 27 points. The Leathernecks tallied a 22-4 advantage in points off turnovers and outscored the Bison in the paint, 38-36.

After shooting 52 percent from the field in the first half, the Bison cooled-off in the second stanza, shooting only 38 percent in the third and fourth quarters to finish the game at 44 percent.

North Dakota State outrebounded Western Illinois, 46-30, but committed 16 turnovers compared to just five miscues for the Leathernecks.

The Bison increased a 38-31 halftime lead to 44-31 with 8:34 remaining in the third quarter after back-to-back layups from Whittle and Thunstedt and a pair of made free throws from Brianna Jones, but the Leathernecks fought back and tied the game, 58-58, at the end of the third quarter.

Western Illinois opened the fourth quarter on a 12-2 run spanning five minutes to gain a lead it would not surrender.

North Dakota State will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 23, when it hosts Fort Wayne at 2 p.m. inside the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.