No. 14 Minnesota 79, North Dakota St. 70

1/26/2006 10:17 PM

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Jamie Broback scored a career-high 33 points, 25 in the second half, to lead No. Minnesota past pesky North Dakota State, 79-70 on Thursday night.

Just five days ago North Dakota State men's basketball team upset ranked Wisconsin 62-55 on the road.

The women put up a battle, too.

North Dakota State (8-10) wiped out an early 12-2 deficit with a pair of first-half runs that resulted in its only lead at 28-26 on Kayla Dahlen's free throws.

But the Bison managed to stay with the Gophers until midway through the second half.

After Ali Sontselie's layup pulled to Bison to within 44-43, Broback scored 10 points in a 12-7 run that put the Gophers in control.

Minnesota (14-4) then pulled away when Shannon Bolden and Katie Alsdurf each hit 3-pointers for a 65-51 lead with 4:46 left.

The surge stopped a strong effort by the Bison, playing their second season in Division I following a number of years as a Division II powerhouse.

Brenda Slyt came off the bench to lead North Dakota State with 17 points. Katie Lorenz had 12 points and 10 assists, while Sontselie had 11 points.

Broback had nine rebounds, while making 11 of 20 shots from the field and 11 of 12 from the line. Liz Podominick added 11 points and April Calhoun scored 10 for the Gophers.

Minnesota came out as if to put the game away early, using pressure defense to create turnovers and off-balance shots by North Dakota State.

The Bison were able to get back in the game by holding Minnesota to just one field goal over the final 6:18 of the first half.