GRAND FORKS, N.D. (UND Athletics)- After outshooting South Dakota State (20-8, 12-2 Summit) in the first half to hang within one possession, the University of North Dakota (14-12, 5-8 Summit) dropped its penultimate game of 2019-20 at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center to the Jackrabbits, 74-61. Kacie Borowicz led all scorers in the game with 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting.
The Jacks capitalized off the Fighting Hawks turnovers, outscoring UND 24-15 in that category. SDSU also capitalized on its 10 offensive rebounds with 15 points, holding a +9 margin over the Hawks. The Fighting Hawks closed the night 17-of-19 at the free throw line, outscoring the Jacks by three.
North Dakota went blow-for-blow with South Dakota State in the first half after a slow start to the game, capitalizing at the free-throw line with a 7-for-8 performance in the opening 20 minutes. UND also made of five of its nine shots in the first quarter and trailed by three at halftime, 31-28.
Julia Fleecs, who closed the night with 13 points, led UND with seven in the first half. The junior capped a 4-0 rally at the end of the second quarter after sinking a pair of free throws. SDSU’s Tori Nelson closed the first two periods with 10 points.
After outscoring North Dakota 20-12 in the paint despite the Hawks holding a +1 rebounding margin, the Jacks put a premium on their post presence in the third quarter as it accounted for four offensive rebounds and scored eight points off those chances to break away from North Dakota.
That premium held Jaclyn Jarnot rebound-less in the final 20 minutes. The Jackrabbits manned the Brooklyn Park, Minn., native up and trailed another off her hip to keep the sophomore at eight rebounds. Jarnot led all rebounders in the first half of play.
The Fighting Hawks did not go down without a fight, however, as Borowicz relentlessly found open space in South Dakota State’s zone defense and hit her open floater attempts. The Roseau, Minn., native opened the night 6-for-6 from the field and 3-for-3 at the free-throw line.
Borowicz nearly lifted the Hawks to within double digits in the final minutes of the contest, but the Jackrabbits staved off the rally to hold on to the double-digit lead. Tyler Irwin scored two fast-break layups off steals from the top of the UND key late in the fourth quarter close the night with 15 points. She also had a team-high seven rebounds.
The Fighting Hawks will close the weekend on Sunday, Feb. 23, hosting North Dakota State at The Betty. The program will honor lone senior Alaina Jarnot before the 2 p.m. tipoff with the Bison.
