Box Score GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of North Dakota women’s basketball team fell 76-71 to St. Thomas on Thursday night at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. The Fighting Hawks drop to 8-13 on the season and 3-5 in Summit League play.

UND trailed early, falling behind 21-16 after the first quarter despite shooting 57.1% (8-of-14) from the field. Walker Demers had a stellar first quarter, pacing with 10 points and four rebounds. 

St. Thomas maintained control in the second, outscoring the Hawks 22-19 and heading into halftime with a 43-35 lead. Neveah Ferrara Horne led second with nine points, including going 2-of-2 from the three-point range. The Fighting Hawks shot 43.8% (7-of-16) from the field, three field goals coming from the arc. 

The third quarter saw the Tommies extend their lead as UND struggled offensively, shooting 35.7% (5-of-14) from the field and going 0-of-3 from beyond the arc. St. Thomas took advantage, outscoring UND 16-14 and leading by 10 entering the fourth.

The Hawks mounted a comeback in the final frame, outscoring the Tommies 22-17, but it wasn’t enough. Despite shooting 57.1% (4-of-7) from three in the fourth, UND couldn’t overcome St. Thomas’ lead. 

The Fighting Hawks will look to bounce back when they host South Dakota on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 2 p.m.

Postgame Notes:
•    Walker Demers led the Hawks with a career-high 20 points. With a team-high 15 rebounds (one short of her career record), Demers recorded her third career double-double. 
•    Nevaeh Ferrara Horne also had a career night with 17 points, going 6-of-10 from the field, including four threes. 
•    Mikayla Aumer and Jocie Schiller also hit double-digits with 11 and 15 points, respectively. 
•    Fatima Ibrahim recorded three blocks.
•    UND shot 44.4% (28-of-63) from the field compared to St. Thomas’ 42.9% (27-of-63).
•    From beyond the arc, St. Thomas went 40% (6-of-15) to UND’s 35% (7-of-20).
•    From the free throw line, UST outshot UND 76.2% (16-of-21) to 61.5% (8-of-13). 
•    The Tommies held a 40-38 edge in rebounds.