Fast Start Lifts North Dakota State to 61-41 Win Over IUPUI

FARGO, N.D.--North Dakota State University jumped out to a 20-2 lead and went on to defeat IUPUI 61-41 in a Summit League women's basketball game played Monday, Jan. 12, before 742 fans in the Bison Sports Arena. The Bison extended their winning streak to three games. North Dakota State (7-7, 5-1 Summit), which remained in a three-way tie for the league lead, is scheduled to play at UMKC (7-9, 2-3 Summit) at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, in Kansas City, Mo. The Bison then play at Southern Utah (6-9, 2-3 Summit) at 8 p.m. (Central) on Monday, Jan. 19, in Cedar City, Utah. NDSU capitalized on a patient offense that produced 26 of 35 points in the paint in the opening half. Balance was the key as Jerri Penley, Jill Zaruba, Whitney Trecker and Skye Smith all found the openings inside. The Bison shot 51.5 percent from the field in the opening half compared to 18.5 percent by the Jaguars. North Dakota State led 35-14 at halftime. It was the third straight game the Bison held an opponent to under 20 points in the opening half (IPFW 17, Western Illinois 13). IUPUI (7-9, 2-3 Summit) rallied back behind 6-foot-4 Julia Whitted, who scored 12 of her game-high 16 points in the second half. She also pulled down 10 rebounds, but the Bison held a 45-34 advantage on the glass. Whitted was the only player in double-figures scoring for the Jags. A pair of Whitted free throws trimmed the NDSU lead to 41-30 with 9:22 remaining, but it was as close as IUPUI would come the rest of the way. North Dakota State gradually pulled away from the Jaguars as Ashley Samuelson, Zaruba and Smith picked up where they left off in the first half. Zaruba led NDSU with 12 points and nine rebounds, while Penley and Smith each finished with 10 points. Zaruba's effort was highlighted by 6 of 6 from the charity stripe, while Smith completed an all-around night with a career best five rebounds and four assists.