UND women's basketball leaves the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center for the first time this season. The Fighting Hawks (1-1) tip off at Milwaukee at 6 p.m. Central on Thursday at the Klotsche Center, UND Athletics said, and the game streams on ESPN+.
It's the first stop on a two-game road swing. Milwaukee's preview puts the Panthers at 1-3 against UND, in a series that dates to 2013 according to UND's opponent history. The last meeting was a 66-58 UND win at Milwaukee on Dec. 21, 2019, according to both schools' recaps.
What's at Stake
Grand Forks fans have already seen both sides of this team in its first two games at the Betty.
The opener on Nov. 2 went badly. Minnesota Crookston, a Red River Valley neighbor, won 81-68. UND Athletics said it was Crookston's first win over North Dakota. Anna Westby led Crookston with 29 points and 11 rebounds, according to UND's recap. For UND, London Harris had career highs of 17 points and nine rebounds, and Sydney Piekny scored 12. UND Athletics said the Hawks forced 23 turnovers and scored 25 points off them. They also shot 1-for-17 from 3-point range in the first half. The Grand Forks Herald broke the loss down in its "5 takeaways" column.
UND bounced back Sunday, Nov. 8, beating Minot State 84-68 at the Betty for its first win of the season, UND Athletics said. UND said the Hawks have now beaten Minot State 12 straight times, a streak that dates to 1980. Minot State's athletics site called the game an exhibition, but UND counts it in its 1-1 record. The Beavers forced 20 UND turnovers, according to Minot State, so ball security is worth watching tonight.
Milwaukee is still looking for its first win. The Panthers' athletics department said they started 0-3 on an opening road trip, with losses to Northwestern, Saint Louis and SIUE, and tonight is their home opener.
The Season So Far
- Record: 1-1, per UND Athletics
- Results: lost 81-68 to Minnesota Crookston (Nov. 2), beat Minot State 84-68 (Nov. 8), both at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center
- Opponent: Milwaukee is 0-3, per Milwaukee Athletics
Also Tonight: UND Volleyball's Last Road Week
UND volleyball is also on the road tonight. The Hawks play at South Dakota State at 7 p.m. in Brookings, S.D., and then at South Dakota at 5 p.m. Saturday in Vermillion, UND Athletics said. Both matches are on the Summit League Network.
UND enters at 8-15 overall and 2-10 in Summit League play after a 3-0 loss at North Dakota State on Nov. 7, UND Athletics said. Sally Marong led UND with 10 kills in that match. Both opponents beat the Hawks 3-1 at the Betty in October. UND said Marong had a double-double against South Dakota that night, with 13 kills and 10 digs. BVM Sports reported that South Dakota has clinched at least a share of the Summit League title and needs one more win for the outright crown and the tournament's top seed. The league tournament is Nov. 22-24. Check thesummitleague.org for current standings and the tournament field.
Next Up
- Tonight (Thu., Nov. 12): UND at Milwaukee, 6 p.m. Central, Klotsche Center. ESPN+ and the Fighting Hawks Radio Network, per UND's schedule.
- Sat., Nov. 14: UND at Detroit Mercy, Detroit. Sports Media Watch lists a 1 p.m. Eastern tip (noon Central) on ESPN+. Check fightinghawks.com ahead for radio details.
- Fri., Nov. 20: UND hosts Jacksonville State in Grand Forks. UND's schedule lists a noon start, and it is the next chance to see the Hawks in person. Check fightinghawks.com for tickets and final details.
- Volleyball: at South Dakota State tonight at 7 p.m. and at South Dakota Saturday at 5 p.m., both on the Summit League Network.
Sources
- UND Athletics: Women's basketball notes, road trip at Milwaukee: tonight's time, venue and stream
- UND Athletics: Women's basketball history vs. Milwaukee: series dating to 2013
- Milwaukee Athletics: 2019 recap, Panthers fall to UND 66-58: last meeting
- UND Athletics: 2026-27 women's basketball schedule: Jacksonville State date and time
- Sports Media Watch: Women's college basketball TV schedule: Detroit Mercy time and stream
- UND Athletics: Loss to Minnesota Crookston: opener score and leaders
- Grand Forks Herald: 5 takeaways from UND's 81-68 loss to Minnesota Crookston: local analysis of the opener
- UND Athletics: First win of 2026-27: Minot State result and streak
- Minot State Athletics: Recap of the 84-68 game: turnover numbers and exhibition designation
- Milwaukee Athletics: Preview of home opener vs. North Dakota: Panthers' 0-3 start, home opener and 1-3 series record
- UND Athletics: Volleyball notes, final road matches: volleyball times, venues and October results
- UND Athletics: Volleyball falls at NDSU: volleyball record and Marong's kills
- BVM Sports: South Dakota seeks outright Summit title: league title race and tournament dates
