GRAND FORKS, N.D. - With a trio of players finishing with double figures, the University of North Dakota women's basketball team took a 74-56 exhibition game victory over Minnesota, Crookston at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.
Junior transfer Kate Sharkova (F, Borisov Minsk Region, Belerus) led the Fighting Sioux with a 12-rebound, 12-point double-double, senior Kayla Bagaason (G, Clearbrook, Minn.) came away with 18 points, and fellow senior Alys Seay (G, Grand Forks, N.D.) finished with 14 points.
Seay also finished second on the team with nine rebounds - just one board shy of her first double-double.
The midweek game does not count in the overall 2009-10 season statistics, but the win does extend UND's undefeated winning-streak against the Golden Eagles to 11-0.
The Sioux, who opened the game with a 14-2 run, took the lead at 18:30 and never looked back. Bagaason's jumper was not only the first basket for the Sioux, but it was the first in the game as well.
With several more short runs, North Dakota was able to hold the Eagles to just 12 first-half points. The Sioux tallied 17 points off of UMC turnovers with six of those points on fast break opportunities.
The Fighting Sioux went into the half with a 31-12 advantage.
It was a different game for both teams in the second half. After going without a three-pointer for the first 20 minutes, UND came out and made two in the first minute. Freshman Nicole Smart (G, Ada, Minn.) made the first three-point basket at 19:27 and Baggason followed 26 second laters with one of her own to give UND its largest lead of the game, a 25-point advantage.
The quick 6-0 opening run for the Sioux would be the largest of the half as UND and the Golden Eagles traded baskets for the next 18 minutes.
After being held to just 12 points with no three-pointers in the opening half, UMC used a trio of three-pointers from Gina Jaroszewski and another three from Kelsey Van Ackeren to score 44 second-half points. The three-pointers would help the Eagles maintain the 20-point margin, but it would be enough to stage a comeback.
Jaroszewski, Van Ackeren and Lauren Kessler all finished in double-figures for UMC.
The Fighting Sioux will open regular-season play on Friday, Nov. 13 when they host Green Bay for a 4 p.m. tipoff at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.
- Go Sioux -
