TUCSON, Ariz. (NDSU Athletics)– Heaven Hamling netted 14 points as No. 10/6 Arizona edged North Dakota State, 59-47, on Thursday night at McKale Center.
Hamling notched a team-high 14 points on 5-of-12 shooting from the field and matched a season-high four three pointers on nine attempts. It marked her fourth straight double-digit scoring performance and seventh of the season. Emily Dietz, who made her 90th career start, grabbed a game-high seven rebounds to go along with six points. Ryan Cobbins handed out a game-high five assists and added six rebounds and four points her stat line.
NDSU (3-5) shot 35.4 percent (17-48) from the field with nine different players reaching the scoring column. The Bison also grabbed 35 rebounds and the bench added in 19 points.
After Arizona (8-0) sprinted out a 9-2 edge in the opening quarter, NDSU connected on back-to-back jumpers to cut the deficit to three, 9-6. Arizona pushed back to close the quarter with six unanswered points to extend the lead to 15-6.
NDSU battled back in the second quarter pulling back within three, 19-16, following a triple from Katie Hildebrandt with 5:38 to play in the half. The Wildcats once again responded to increase their lead up to 10, 31-21, at the break after Shaina Pellington knocked down a jumper as time expired. Reneya Hopkins and Olivia Skibiel paced the Bison at the break with five points each.
After Hamling knocked down a triple to open the second half, Arizona quickly stretched their lead up to 14, 40-26, at the 4:16 mark. Arizona outscored NDSU in the third frame, 16-12, and led after three quarters of play, 47-33.
NDSU made one final surge beginning the fourth quarter with nine unanswered points, including five from Hamling. The run pulled the Bison back within five, 47-42 following a couple free throws from Hopkins with 6:46 on the clock. The Wildcats answered right back extending their lead to 14, 59-45, with 1:06 to play. Arizona held off NDSU the rest of the way to pick up the win, 59-47.
The Bison will continue their road swing on Sunday at Wyoming (3-4). Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m. CT