UND's perimeter offense has struggled in its first two games this season. The Sioux are shooting less than 22 percent from the 3-point line.
But the way UND's posts are playing, it hasn't mattered.
Kierah Kimbrough and Ashley Langen turned in another dominating performance down low combining for 39 points to lead UND to a 77-45 win over Montana State-Billings on Saturday in the UND Women's Classic in the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.
Unlike Friday, when the Sioux built a big lead before allowing Metro State make things close at the end, UND buried Montana State-Billings with a 10-0 run to close the first half.
Kimbrough started the spurt with a pair of mid-range jumpers. Langen added four free throws and Val Sannes had two free throws as the Sioux took a 34-20 halftime lead.
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"I thought our posts played well," UND coach Gene Roebuck said. "Kimbrough and Langen were 14-for-22."
Post players Kimbrough, Langen, Val Sannes and Whitney Ledger combined for 50 of UND's 77 points.
"It's kind of double trouble," Langen said. "If you guard one, someone else is open. I don't want to say we're unstoppable, but when we hit our shots we are almost unstoppable."
Montana State-Billings coach Kevin Woodin agreed.
"Their posts are very experienced," Woodin said. "Their size definitely hurt us. It's hard to double them, too, because they have so many capable players."
Kayla McPherson had 15 points to lead the Yellowjackets. Alira Carpenter, who made 5 of 19 shots from the field, added 12 points.
Montana State-Billings shot only 25.9 percent from the field and 56.3 percent from the free-throw line.
Despite 1-for-12 shooting from beyond the arc in the first half, UND shot 41 percent from the field in the game.
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Roebuck was pleased with his defense, but he is concerned about the outside shooting woes.
"A big key is on the perimeter," Roebuck said. "Part of it may be as a coach we might have to spend less time working on plays and give them more time to just go out and practice shooting."
After Kimbrough (18 points) and Langen (14), the Sioux were led by Sannes with 10 points, Danye Guinn with nine and Jossy Bergan with six.
Metro State 75, Minnesota State-Moorhead 71: Stephanie Sauter scored 21 points to lead Metro State to a come-from-behind win over Minnesota State-Moorhead in the first game of the tournament.
The Dragons, which blew an eight-point second half lead, led 40-35 at halftime.
Megan Sinclair added 15 points for the Roadrunners, who lost 64-56 to UND on Friday.
Pacing Moorhead were Jessica Fesenmaier and Allison Swenson with 14 points each.
