The Thunderbirds (9-5, 3-1 Summit) used a season-high in points and a game-high 23 points from senior guard Caitlyn Sears to win its seventh straight at home and third consecutive conference game. The seven straight wins are the most by an SUU team since the 1995-96 team closed the season with 12 consecutive wins.

Southern Utah received a balanced scoring effort as eight players scored at least seven points. Sears added a game-high eight boards as she now sits just 17 points away from reaching the 1,000 career point plateau. Senior forward Challis Pascucci had eight points while battling foul trouble and senior point guard Kaila Goff also had 11 points in addition to her six assists. Sophomore forward Tayler Anderson and freshman Desiree Jackson each added eight points while fellow freshmen Andrea Jones, DJ Norman and Carli Moreland each chipped in with seven.

"A big difference tonight was the production we got from our bench," stated head coach JR Payne who saw her bench players outscore NDSU's bench 21-11. "Andrea, DJ and Carli all had outstanding nights. I really like how we are playing well and still gaining confidence and improving each time out."

Trailing 15-11, Anderson sparked a 7-0 spurt for the Thunderbirds with a three from the left wing. Sears followed with a tough up-and-under layup and Jackson capped the run with a pull-up jumper from along the right baseline.

Minutes later, the Thunderbirds would receive a boost off the bench as Moreland entered the game after Pascucci was whistled for her second foul. Moreland quickly grabbed a rebound and put one back up and in while being fouled. She hit the free throw that sparked a 15-6 run for Southern Utah. Jackson recovered from a tough shooting start to hit her two shots. Following a Bison basket, senior point guard Kaila Goff knocked down a three from the right wing and freshman guard DJ Norman added a fastbreak layup before Sears capped the run with a jumper to open up an 11-point SUU lead.

NDSU quickly answered with seven quick points but Sears added another jumper and Moreland finished with a layin after a nice no-look bounce pass from Norman to go up 39-31. The Bison later added a free throw to send the Thunderbirds into the half leading 39-32.

Sears led all scorers with 12 first-half points while Jackson and Moreland each added six with Moreland also grabbing six boards.

SUU opened the second half in a full court press that forced NDSU into a couple turnovers and consecutive steals and layups by Goff and Sears to open up a 44-34 lead.

The Thunderbirds would keep their lead around 10 before the Bison, the Summit League's leading 3-point shooting team, hit back-to-back threes to make it a seven-point game. SUU would regroup and answer right back with their own 6-0 spurt as freshman Andrea Jones knocked down a long two from the top of key and Jackson and Sears each hit two free throws to open up a 63-50 advantage.

SUU would hold its double-digit lead throughout the rest of the game with Sears hitting a three to give the Thunderbirds its largest lead at 72-55 with 6:44 remaining.

Southern Utah held the Bison to 30% shooting from behind the arc and 34% overall while shooting 46% themselves. Moreland finished with eight rebounds and Anderson added eight while also dishing out five assists.

"Carli was very aggressive on both ends of the floor tonight and that really helped us out," added Payne. "Caitlyn did a little bit of everything tonight and continues to lead our young team in every aspect of the game."

The Thunderbirds will take their seven-game winning streak on the road, heading to Spokane, Wash. to face Gonzaga University, a Sweet-16 team a year ago. Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m. (MST) on Monday.