Zaruba's Career-High Powers North Dakota State Past IPFW 72-65

FARGO, N.D.--Jill Zaruba doubled her career-high with 24 points as North Dakota State University defeated IPFW 72-65 in a Summit League women's basketball game played Saturday, Jan. 31, before 1,335 spectators in the Bison Sports Arena. North Dakota State (9-9, 7-3 Summit) is scheduled to host Oakland University (16-4, 8-1 Summit). The Golden Grizzlies played at No. 19/24-ranked South Dakota State late Saturday afternoon. Zaruba, a 6-foot-2 junior from Monticello, Minn., netted 14 in the first half  on 6 of 7 shooting from the field and all four free throws to surpass her previous career best 12 points achieved in the 2007-08 season opener at Northern Arizona. The Bison led 35-24 at halftime. Zaruba recorded her second career "double-double" with 10 rebounds. She connected on 9 of 13 field goal attempts overall and 6 of 6 free throws. She added a career best three steals, two assists and one blocked shot. Jordan Zuppe scored 11 of her team-high 15 points in the second half for IPFW (3-18, 2-8 Summit), who made things interesting in the second half. Eva Ivanova also had 15 points including a 10 in the final half. However, North Dakota State kept IPFW at a distance behind the alert play of Inger Hodgson, Katie Birkel, Whitney Trecker and Ashley Samuelson. Hodgson scored 14 points and matched her career-high with five assists. Birkel and Trecker each knocked down important three-pointers, while Samuelson fought for loose balls inside. Birkel added 10 points including nine in the second half. The Mastodons came back to close the deficit to within five points in the game's final 3:35. Sarah Haluska's two free throws cut the gap to 70-65 with 27 seconds remaining. Chelsey Jackson, Zuppe and Ivanova all sparked the rally. Jackson scored 10 of her 12 points in the final period. However, IPFW missed several chances to cut the gap before Zaruba pulled down a rebound and hit two free throws with 3 seconds ice the win. North Dakota State connected on 51 percent from the field compared to 40.7 percent for IPFW. It was the third time this season the Bison made 50 percent of their field goals. NDSU made 19 of 24 from the foul line for 79.2 percent, while the Mastodons hit 17 of 22 for 77.3 percent. The start of the game was delayed for 18 minutes due to a fire alarm. Approximately 47 minutes prior to the scheduled tipoff a fire alarm was accidentally activated. The building, including players and coaches, was cleared for 15 minutes before the all clear sign was given by fire department officials.