GRAND FORKS – Pulling close a handful of times, Southern Utah couldn't manage to pull ahead of North Dakota, resulting in a 67-52 Big Sky loss.
Southern Utah battled from behind in the remaining minutes of the first half to creep within four points of North Dakota before forcing a two-point game in the bottom of the second half. UND pulled through in the final minutes to earn the victory.
Marquelle Funk and Desiree Jackson led the Thunderbirds in scoring with 13 and 11, respectively. Jessica Richardson added nine. Brenna Gates and Richardson each totaled eight rebounds as Funk led Southern Utah in assists with three. Jackson tacked on four steals in the loss.
Southern Utah shot 28.6% from the field, 25% from beyond the arch and 78.6% from the charity strike. The Thunderbirds finished with 35 rebounds including 12 offensive boards and 23 defensive boards.
UND took a 13-5 lead over Southern Utah to launch the game before Emma Weinreich knocked in a jumper. A three from Ashleigh Munns pushed the Thunderbirds within seven before a four-point North Dakota run placed SUU within 13. Jackson and Richardson each knocked in shots to trail UND, 25-14.
Southern Utah flipped a switch, tacking up an 11 point run with just under four minutes to play in the first half, beginning with a layup from Funk. The Thunderbird comeback continued with a layup from Richardson, a jumper from Funk and three free throws from Munns. A layup from Jackson pulled Southern Utah within four before UND knocked in a free throw to extend its lead to five. Jackson nailed a trey at the buzzer to trail North Dakota 34-28 at the half.
Jackson and Funk led the Thunderbirds in the first half with seven points each as Munns chipped in six. Funk finished the first half with two assists with Richardson leading in rebounds with five. Southern Utah shot 36.7% from the field and 30% from beyond the arch.
Richardson poured in two pairs of free throws to get Southern Utah rolling in the second half and creep within three points of North Dakota. UND took a four-point run before Funk finished a layup to force a five-point ballgame with just under 15 minutes to play.
North Dakota rallied ahead of the Thunderbirds, clenching a 10-point lead before Funk drained a three to put SUU back in the game. Jackson and Iva Georgieva each knocked in shots before Gates finished a jumper to place the T-Birds within two. North Dakota drained a pair of free throws and two three-pointers to extend its lead to eight before a free throw from Richardson forced a seven-point game with under five minutes remaining.
UND rallied a six-point run in the final minutes before Sydnee Taylor drained a three with just under a minute to play. North Dakota rounded out the night with three free throws to tack up a 67-52 win.
Southern Utah will wrap up its road trip by taking on Northern Colorado on Feb. 7 before returning home to host Weber State and Idaho State on Feb. 12 and Feb. 14, respectively.
