FARGO, N.D. – After trailing by as many as 16 points in the first half, the North Dakota State women's basketball team battled back to earn a 63-60 win over Kansas City on Thursday night at Scheels Center.

Abbie Draper led the way for NDSU (8-7, 2-0 Summit) netting a game-high 18 points with six rebounds and three assists. Elle Evans poured in 17 points of her own on 3-of-5 shooting from three and 8-of-8 from the free throw line. Heaven Hamling closed out the group with 16 points  and tied a career-high six steals.

As a team, NDSU shot 33.3 percent (18-54) from the field and 65.7 percent (23-35) from the free throw line. The Bison also scored 24 points in the paint and 14 points off of turnovers.

Kansas City (9-9, 0-3 Summit) was able to run out to a 16-point edge, 23-7, by the 6:23 mark of the second quarter before the Bison responded with 10 straight points to close the first half, including five points from Hamling to make the score 31-26 at the intermission.

Both teams then battled throughout the third frame that featured three tie scores. The Bison stole their first lead of the night after Hamling created a steal and finished with a fastbreak layup, 43-41, with 24 seconds to play in the quarter. The two teams entered the fourth frame locked, 43-43, before NDSU assembled six straight points capped off by a jumper from Abby Schulte to stretch the lead to six, 51-45, with 5:54 to play. The Bison went on to hold off the Roos the rest of way to stay unbeaten at home, 63-60.

NDSU will wrap its homestand hosting Omaha on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m., at Scheels Center.