Purdue Fort Wayne
North Dakota State
`Dons Fall in Conference Battle
1/31/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 31, 2009
Fargo, ND - The IPFW Mastodons were unable to take the momentum from their thrilling victory over Western Illinois five days prior, falling to the Bison of North Dakota State by a 72-65 final score.
Eva Ivanova and Jordan Zuppe each scored 15 points, and Chelsey Jackson scored a dozen in the losing effort. Tina Moen and Courtney Reed each scored eight, with Sarah Haluska pouring in five. Three players, Zuppe, Jackson, and Haluska, led the team with six rebounds, with Zuppe dishing out four assists, and Reed nabbing a trio of steals.
The teams started the game by going back-and-forth, with IPFW leading 5-4 before the Bison went on a 6-2 run, all of NDSU's points coming from the free throw line, pushing the hosts ahead 10-7, taking a lead that they would not give up for the remainder of the game.
The Mastodons closed to within one at 10-9 before the Bison out-scored IPFW 11-4, increasing their lead to nine at 21-13 four minutes later.
The Bison led by as many as 14 in the first half at 34-20, setting the stage for a 4-1 run by IPFW that cut the deficit to 11 at 35-24 heading into the locker room at halftime.
Eva Ivanova opened the second half strong, scoring IPFW's first six points, as the `Dons ran of a 6-2 run, closing the gap to seven, two minutes into the second half.
The margin remained between seven and 11 until Jordan Zuppe made the second of her game-high three three-point baskets, cutting the gap to six at 56-50.
Three times the `Dons got within five, the first time at 64-59 following a basket by Chelsey Jackson, the second on Ivanova's final basket with 2:21 to play in the game, and the final time with 27 seconds on the clock following a pair of Haluska charity stripe attempts.
Despite cutting the deficit to a pair of possessions, IPFW was not able to overcome the gap, falling 72-65 in the Summit League contest.
North Dakota State made 25-of-49 shots from the field for a percentage of 51.1, and 33.6 percent (3-of-9) from long range. IPFW made 40.4 percent (22-of-54) of their shots, making 4-of-16 from three-point range.
For just the fourth time this season IPFW out-rebounded their opponent, 32-30, and led in second-chance points 13-10.
Jill Zaruba was the highlight player of the game for the Bison, scoring a career-high 23 points, with 16 of those coming in the first half, while adding 10 rebounds for the double-double. Inger Hodgson scored 14 points and dished out five assists, with Katie Birkel scoring 10.
The `Dons next travel south to Brookings, South Dakota to take on the nationally ranked Jackrabbits of South Dakota State University, with tip-off slated for 8:00 PM EST.
~Dons~
