TULSA, Okla.-- UND is off to a solid start in its first season as a Summit League member.
UND picked up its first-ever Summit League road win with a 75-67 victory at Oral Roberts on Wednesday to improve to 2-0 in conference play. Also, it was UND’s fourth-straight win.
The big statistic of the night came at the free-throw line where UND went 34-for-38.
UND (7-8 overall) again did its damage in the paint, needing just one three-pointer to earn the victory. It was the second straight game in which UND did not rely on 3-point shooting. Against Purdue Fort Wayne on Sunday, the Fighting Hawks did not score from beyond the arc.
Jill Morton led UND with 23 points, including a 10-for-10 showing at the free-throw line. Lexi Klabo added another double-double, finishing with 19 points and 10 rebounds. It was her 25th career double-double.
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Klabo was 11-for-12 at the line and now is 14 free throws shy of the school’s career record.
Julia Fleecs was the third UND player in double figures with 11 points. Fleecs scored 10 points in the first half.
UND bolted to a 14-7 lead before Oral Roberts (1-1, 8-7) scored nine straight for a 16-14 advantage after the first quarter. The Golden Eagles led 37-33 at the half.
An eight-point run midway through the third quarter, however, sparked UND, a spurt that left the Hawks with a 49-43 lead.
Oral Roberts briefly regained the lead early in the fourth quarter before Morton responded with a jump shot. UND then forced a turnover, leading to a Morton 3-pointer and a four-point lead.
UND’s defense held ORU scoreless for the next three-plus minutes. Faith Dooley hit back-to-back layups for a 68-61 UND lead. The Hawks, 14-6 against Summit League teams since becoming a Division I program in 2008, hung on for their first Summit road win.
UND will play at Denver on Saturday night.
