VERMILLION – Abbie Draper netted a career high 29 points to help guide the North Dakota State women’s basketball team to a 72-53 win over South Dakota on Wednesday night at the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.

Draper posted a career-high 29 points after knocking down a career-best 12 field goals on 16 attempts over 30 minutes of action. The Waverly, Iowa native also hauled in 12 rebounds with one assist and one block. It marked her second double-double of the season and third of her career.

Marisa Frost added in 11 points, while Avery Koenen also notched double digits in scoring with 10 points and six rebounds. Abby Schulte narrowly missed a double-double of her own with nine points and eight rebounds.

As a team, the Bison shot 49.1 percent (27-55) from the field and 77.8 percent (14-18) from the free throw line. NDSU netted 44 points in the paint and the bench contributed 18 points. The Bison also tied a season-best 42 rebounds with nine different players contributing at least one.

Draper got the Bison (13-6, 5-1 Summit) off to a fast start notching 11 points in the first five minutes after knocking down a triple, 13-7, at the 5:33 mark. NDSU then pushed its lead into double figures, 19-9, with a jumper from Koenen with 3:11 to play in the opening frame.

South Dakota (9-11, 3-3 Summit) slowly pulled its way back trimming the deficit down to six, 40-34, with a Carley Duffney jumper with 4:21 to play in the third quarter. NDSU, who never trailed in the contest, responded with a momentum-shifting 7-2 run capped off by a triple from Molly Lenz to stretch the lead to 47-36 at the 2:29 mark in the third. The Bison went on to hold off the Coyotes over the final quarter to pick up the 72-53 win.

NDSU will be back in action on Saturday hosting North Dakota. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m., inside the Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex with the men’s game to follow at 4:00 p.m. Tickets to the doubleheader can be purchased here.