Box Score (PDF)

FARGO, N.D. – Sophomore guard Taylor Thunstedt scored a career-high 28 points, but it wasn't enough, as the North Dakota State University women's basketball team fell to Summit League rival and Mid-Major No. 4-ranked South Dakota State, 81-63, on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 3, at Scheels Arena.

Marena Whittle also scored in double figures for the Bison (5-10 overall, 0-2 Summit League), posting her fifth consecutive double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds to go along with a team-high three steals.

North Dakota State shot 37 percent from the field for the game, including a 7-of-14 performance from beyond the arc, but were outrebounded, 41-34.

Sophomore Macy Miller led South Dakota State (12-3 overall, 2-0 Summit League) with a game-high 29 points on 11-of-17 shooting from the floor, while Ellie Thompson posted a double-double with 16 points and 12 boards.

After the Jackrabbits jumped out to a 20-9 lead with 3:24 to go in the first quarter, the Bison put together an 11-0 run, tying the game at 20 after Thunstedt made a pair of free throws with 1:21 to go in the stanza. South Dakota State regained a one-point edge with a made free-throw 16 seconds later. 

SDSU staved off a series of small North Dakota State runs in the second quarter to take a 39-35 advantage into halftime.

The Bison knotted the contest, 43-43, with 6:33 to go in the third quarter after Whittle drilled a jumper, but the Jacks answered with a 5-0 run to regain the lead at 48-43 with 4:25 to go in the quarter.

A jumper from Emily Spier and layup from Whittle pulled North Dakota State within one with 7:02 to go in the fourth quarter, but that was as close as the Bison could get the remainder of the contest, as South Dakota State went on a 19-2 run over the final seven minutes to secure the victory.

North Dakota State is scheduled to travel to Denver, Colo., on Thursday, Jan. 7, to take on the Denver Pioneers in a Summit League contest. Tip-off from Magness Arena is slated for 7 p.m. MT (8 p.m. CT).