Box Score (PDF)

MIAMI, Fla. – Senior Taylor Thunstedt drilled a three-pointer with 15 seconds remaining to lift the North Dakota State University women's basketball team to a 71-68 victory over the Florida International University Panthers Wednesday, Dec. 20, in the opening game of the FIU Holiday Classic at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.

Freshman Emily Dietz scored a career-high 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including a 6-for-6 performance at the free-throw line, and pulled down a career-best seven rebounds to lead the Bison (6-6).

Rylee Nudell added a career-best 16 points, while Thunstedt netted 12 and Michelle Gaislerova tallied 10.

Sarah Jacobson dished out a game-high six assists.

The game featured eight ties and three lead changes until Thunstedt's game-winning trey.

NDSU shot 44 percent from the floor, 42 percent from three-point range and went 9-of-10 at the free-throw line for 90 percent.

Kristian Hudson netted a game-high 27 points to pace FIU (2-9).

The Panthers shot just 34 percent from the field and 25 percent from beyond the arc.

FIU edged NDSU in rebounding, 43-42, but the Bison bench outscored the Panther reserves, 35-8.

North Dakota State is scheduled to play Central Arkansas in the FIU Holiday Classic Championship Game Thursday, Dec. 21, at noon ET.