There must have been something in the air for the UND women’s basketball team, as their latest game against South Dakota State University Jackrabbits seemed like they were going to end their losing streak. In the first half the energy was high, the crowd wild, and the teams going across the court back and forth. The first period ended in a tie 11-11, but at the end of the second, UND was in the lead with 28 points and SDSU falling behind with 20.
With the energy being high, a few slip ups were expected. During the second period, both teams racked up multiple traveling violations. However, UND had an abundance of positive moves throughout the game. As a team the Hawks had the most rebounds, especially on the Jackrabbits side of the court. UND center, Fatima Ibrahim, was a real rebound queen on both sides of the court. Guard Jocelyn Schiller made the first three-point jumper for UND in the first period and ended up scoring the most points during the game.
Honorable mention goes to the half time show put on by UND’s Dance Team getting the crowd wild and ready for the second half of the game.
When the third period started, the Hawks had the ball, however, it seemed the Jackrabbits brought their A-game. A great duo on the Jackrabbits side just seemed to assist each other well. UND would just barely miss a hoop, and they would sweep in to get that rebound and steal the ball for the other side, scoring almost every time. Even though the Jackrabbits scored a lot, UND seemed to get their groove back and stayed just barely ahead for a while with the score being 28-24, in UND’s favor. Both teams went back and forth, score after score, but by the end of the third period, the score ended up being 41-35 with the Jackrabbits in the lead.
Come the fourth period, the Hawks just could not catch up, the energy was down both on the court and in the stands. Sadly, the Hawks just could not catch up with the Jackrabbits, as UND’s energy dwindled the Jackrabbits seemed to gain more momentum. SDSU ended up winning 66-45, marking the second loss of the season.
Even though this game ended in a loss these girls still got more games to go. Their next home game is against the NDSU Bison Saturday, Feb. 15 at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. They will only have two more home games after that, the first one being Feb. 27 against Omaha and then on Mar. 1 against Kansas City.
Zoe Booth is a Dakota Student General Reporter. She can be reached at zoe.booth@und.edu
