Box Score (PDF)

OMAHA, Neb. - Three Bison scored in double figures on Sunday, but it wasn't enough as the North Dakota State women's basketball team dropped a 78-61 game at Omaha.

The Mavericks scored the first seven points of the game and opened up a 15-4 lead just over halfway through the first quarter. Omaha led 22-11 after the first quarter and increased the lead to 25-11 on a 3-pointer by Kylee Coulter to start the second quarter. 

NDSU fought back in a big way, as a layup by Emily Dietz started a 14-0 Bison run over a 5:21 span. A layup by Danneka Voegeli tied the game at 25-25 with 3:47 left in the half. The Mavs closed the half on an 8-2 run, taking a 33-27 lead at the break.

Omaha scored 19 of the first 30 points in the second half, pushing the lead to 14 with 2:35 left in the quarter. The Bison cut the lead to 10 on an and-one from Sofija Zivaljevic with 6:33 to play. A 3-pointer by Claire Killian with 6:15 to play started a 16-4 Omaha run over a 4:20 span, as the Mavericks pushed the lead to 22 in the final minutes.

Rylee Nudell led the Bison with 12 points, while Dietz and Michelle Gaislerova joined her in double figures with 10 points apiece. Killian and Rayanna Carter led the Mavericks with a game-high 16 points apiece. Voegeli had a team-high six rebounds, while Dietz and Tyrah Spencer each had five. Nudell led the Bison with six assists, while Zivaljevic and Marina Fernandez each had three, a career-high for both Nudell and Zivaljevic. Spencer had a career-high four steals. 

NDSU was 26-of-67 (38.8%) from the floor and 5-of-24 (20.8%) from 3-point range. Omaha was 25-of-56 (44.6%) from the field and 10-of-22 (45.5%) from downtown. The Bison were 4-of-7 (57.1%) at the free throw line, while Omaha was 18-of-19 (94.7%) at the charity stripe. Omaha had a 17-6 advantage in points off turnovers and 27-19 advantage in bench points. 

The Bison return to action on Friday night, Jan. 11, as they host Western Illinois at the Scheels Center.