Balance Carries Bison Women Past Western Illinois

FARGO, N.D.--Dani DeGagne scored 16 points to lead a group of four players in double-figures as North Dakota State defeated Western Illinois 73-53 in a Summit League women's basketball game played Saturday, Feb. 25, before 1,517 in the Bison Sports Arena.

North Dakota State (10-19, 7-10 Summit Legue) is scheduled to close out regular season play against IUPUI (12-17, 7-10 Summit League) at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27.

The teams traded runs of five, seven and seven points early before the Bison took the control at 8-7 with 16:46 left on a Jamie Van Kirk three-pointer that was part of a 13-2 run.

North Dakota State extended the lead to 18-9 on an Abby Plucker jumper with 12:45 remaining. The Bison shot 56.4 percent in the first half compared to 34.4 percent for Western Illinois (11-17, 7-10 Summit League).

The Bison led 39-27 at halftime with Van Kirk netting 11 of her 15 points in the opening period. Hannah Linz scored 15 points, hitting 3 of 4 from the three-point line.

NDSU held a 22-12 rebounding edge at the half and 43-28 for the game on a community effort. Janae Burich had a team-high six rebounds to go with 10 points as 11 different players had two or more caroms.

Burich, a 6-foot-5 junior, had four blocked shots in the game and pushed her career total to 202, becoming only the second player in school history to reach 200 blocks. Burich has 83 on the season, two from tying the NDSU single-season record of 85 set by Lisa Stamp in 1986-87.

The Bison shot 51.7 percent from the field, scoring 36 points in the paint and 22 off of 17 Western Illinois turnovers.

Valencia Kelly led the Fighting Leathernecks with 11 points, while Jackie Rieger pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.