Box Score (PDF)

DENVER – Taylor Thunstedt led all scorers with 23 points and set a new North Dakota State career record for made three-pointers, and freshman Reilly Jacobson netted a career-high 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field to help the NDSU women's basketball team defeat Denver, 86-80, inside Magness Arena on Saturday, Dec. 31 in Denver, Colorado.

With the win, the Bison improve to 3-12 overall and 1-1 in Summit League play, while the Pioneers fall to 3-12 on the season and 0-2 in league action.

Thunstedt, a junior from Spicer, Minn., netted her 193rd career three-pointer with 5:18 to go in the first quarter to pass former Bison Amanda Gehrke (1998-02) for most treys made in a career. She drained three more shots from downtown in the contest to increase her total to 196.

Freshman Sarah Jacobson scored 13 points and pulled down a season-high nine rebounds, while fellow freshman Tyrah Spencer netted a career-high 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field, rounding out the Bison in double figures.

NDSU dominated Denver on the glass in the game, outrebounding the Pioneers, 43-28, and held Denver to 21 percent shooting from three-point range. The Pioneers entered the game leading The Summit League in three-point field-goal percentage at 38.7 percent.

After Denver scored the opening five points of the third quarter, The Bison used a 15-4 run to gain a 57-45 advantage with 4:58 to go in the stanza.

The Pioneers cut the Bison lead to four a trio of times in the fourth quarter, but NDSU had an answer each time to secure the victory.  

For the game, North Dakota State shot 48 percent from the field, 46 percent from three-point range and 79 percent at the free-throw line.

NDSU outscored Denver in the paint, 30-26, and 19-10 on second chance opportunities. The Bison bench also outscored the Pioneer bench, 38-34.

Lauren Loven scored 18 points to lead the Pioneers.

North Dakota State returns home to the Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex to take on the South Dakota Coyotes on Wednesday, Jan. 4, at 7 p.m.