Complete Box Score

SEATTLE (Dec. 30) – Kiera Kimbrough led four Fighting Sioux players in double figures as North Dakota started strong and held off a late Seattle Pacific rally, defeating the Falcons 72-58 in a non-conference women’s basketball game Saturday afternoon at Brougham Pavilion.

It was the first non-conference home loss for the Falcons (6-4) since the 2003 NCAA II regional championship game against Cal State Bakersfield and the first in regular season play since the 1997-98 season. It was the 12th straight victory for North Dakota (17-1), who is ranked No. 4 in NCAA II.

The Fighting Sioux shot 59 percent in the first half, en route to a 15-point lead at the break, but the Falcons stormed back into the contest behind a 13-2 run early in the second half that left them down just six, 50-44, with 9:37 remaining.

Jackie Hollands (Jr., 5-9, Oregon City, Or.) started the run with back-to-back threes, and Jessie Menkens (Sr., 5-10, Battle Ground, Wa./Prairie) also scored six points during that stretch.

The Fighting Sioux, however, responded with seven unanswered points and let the Falcons back to within single figures just once the rest of the way.

Kelsey Hill (So., 6-2, Portland, Or./Portland Christian) scored 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Falcons. Rachel Strand (Sr., 6-0, Shoreline, Wa./King’s) also scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds.

Kimbrough scored 10 of her game-high 16 points in the first half as North Dakota took control early.

Strand knocked down the first basket of the game for SPU, but it was the last time the Falcons would lead as UND’s Kayla Bagaason hit a three-pointer to catalyze a 14-0 run by the Fighting Sioux. The Falcons pulled to within seven midway through the half, but North Dakota went on a 10-0 run to capture a 17-point lead, its biggest of the game.

Bagaason shot a perfect 3-for-3 from three-point range and finished with 11 points. Ashley Langen added 10 points and a game-high 15 rebounds in the victory. Carissa Jahner scored 10 points and grabbed nine boards.

Hollands and Daesha Henderson (Fr., 5-8, Snohomish, Wa.) each scored nine points off the bench to lead all reserves. Menkens finished with eight.

North Dakota cooled off in the second half, but still shot 52 percent for the game. The Falcons shot just 29 percent in the first half and 31 percent overall. The Falcons scored 23 points off 25 UND turnovers and coughed the ball up just 11 times themselves, but North Dakota dominated the glass, out-rebounding SPU 49-23.

The Falcons are in conference play the remainder of the regular season beginning with the Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener on Thursday against Central Washington at Brougham Pavilion.

NORTH DAKOTA 72, SEATTLE PACIFIC 58
NORTH DAKOTA (17-1) Kierah Kimbrough 7-14 2-2 16; Kayla Bagaason 4-4 0-0 11; Ashley Langen 5-13 0-0 10; Carissa Jahner 3-7 4-6 10; Jossy Bergan 3-4 0-0 8; Karla Beck 2-4 2-2 7; Danye Guinn 2-4 2-2 6; Val Sannes 2-3 0-0 4; Jordan Holthusen 0-0 0-0 0; Alys Seay 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28 54 10-12 72.
SEATTLE PACIFIC (6-4) Hill,Kelsey 2-12 6-7 11; Strand,Rachel 5-9 0-0 11; Henderson,Daesha 3-10 2-2 9; Hollands,Jackie 3-8 0-0 9; Menkens,Jessie 3-8 2-2 8; Fielding,Autumn 2-7 0-0 4; Christensen,Beth 1-3 2-2 4; Magnuson,Libby 1-8 0-0 2; Hoisington,Megan 0-0 0-0 0; Christensen,Jessie 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-65 12-13 58.

North Dakota.................. 41 31 - 72 
Seattle Pacific............... 26 32 - 58

Halftime-UND 41, SPU 26.3-point goals-North Dakota 6-12 (Kayla Bagaason 3-3; Jossy Bergan 2-3; Karla Beck 1-3; Danye Guinn 0-2; Carissa Jahner 0-1), Seattle Pacific 6-28 (Hollands,Jackie 3-7; Hill,Kelsey 1-2; Henderson,Daesha 1-4; Strand,Rachel 1-4; Magnuson,Libby 0-2; Christensen,Beth 0-2; Fielding,Autumn 0-2; Menkens,Jessie 0-5). Fouled out--North Dakota-None, Seattle Pacific-None. Rebounds-North Dakota 49 (Ashley Langen 15), Seattle Pacific 23 (Hill,Kelsey 7). Assists-North Dakota 22 (Karla Beck 6; Carissa Jahner 6), Seattle Pacific 17 (Christensen,Beth 7). Total fouls-North Dakota 11, Seattle Pacific 16. A-453