BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Earlier this month, Montana State escaped The Betty with a four-point win.
Montana State had an easier time during Thursday night's rematch.
Rachel Semansky scored 19 points to lead Montana State past UND 70-54. The loss dropped UND to 6-6 while Montana State of the Big Sky Conference improved to 8-4.
Montana State distanced itself from UND late in the first half. The Bobcats led 39-20 at the half.
"We came out really flat," UND coach Gene Roebuck said in a postgame radio interview. "We played at a lower level. Emotionally, we didn't have it."
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But UND did manage a slight surge in the second half. Emily Evers scored with seven minutes to go to cut Montana State's lead to 56-46. But Montana State's Emily Allen hit six straight free throws over the next 2½ minutes to give the Bobcats some breathing room.
UND couldn't make a second run as the Bobcats pulled away.
"Our players came back; they didn't give up," Roebuck said. "They had the courage to keep fighting."
Carly Rothfusz was the only UND player in double figures with 10 points. Freshman Siri Burck added seven for UND.
UND shot 32 percent from the field but were sharper from the three-point line by making 42 percent of its attempts.
Montana State also had an advantage on the boards, outrebounding UND 43-35.
The Bobcats, who received 14 points from Katie Bussey, shot 42 percent from the field.
UND won't play again until after Christmas.
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UND will take part in the Lady Griz Holiday Classic at the University of Montana. UND will take on Idaho next Thursday before playing host Montana the following day.
UND downed Idaho by 30 points in its second game of the season last month at The Betty.
