If tonight was any indication of what's in store, the University of Minnesota Duluth could give Division II teams reoccurring nightmares. The Bulldogs came away with a 70-65 exhibition win over Division I squad North Dakota State University on Tuesday night in Fargo, N.D.

UMD had four players score at least nine points, led by senior forward Emma Boehm with 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting while sophomore forward Sarah Grow chipped in 17 points and a game-high seven rebounds and three blocks. The Bulldogs forced 23 Bison turnovers including 12 steals in the contest. Four Bulldogs collected a pair of steals with sophomore guard Ann Simonet leading all players with three steals.

North Dakota State struggled immediately after the opening tip as the Bison missed their first seven shots. Meanwhile, UMD got off to the perfect start, running off to a 13-0 start before NDSU scored its first bucket with 4:48 remaining in the first quarter. The Bulldogs made their first three attempts and connected from three-point land three times early on. Boehm started hot with four of her first five shots falling including two threes.

The Bison finally got settled in and responded with a 8-0 run and trailed 17-12 after the first quarter. NDSU continued and shot 67 percent in the second quarter, which saw the Bulldogs' big first quarter advantage vanish. The Bison grabbed their first lead at 24-22 and went to the half leading 33-32.

UMD stepped up its defensive prowess to start the second half and on NDSU's 17th turnover of the game freshman forward Brooke Olson laid in a bucket to give UMD a 45-43 lead. The true freshman led all players off the bench with nine points.

Grow dominated the end of the third quarter. Grow, the native of Circle Pines, Minn., scored the last six points and had a key block to close out the third quarter. Grow's two free throws with 41 seconds in the third gave UMD a 49-47 lead and the Bulldogs would never give it up. UMD would extend that lead to 62-53 on another big basket in the paint by Grow. 

Boehm locked up the game in the closing minutes. With UMD leading by one, Boehm knocked down a corner three after Simonet out-hustled everyone for an offensive board. The Bison countered with a three of their own but Boehm calmly, on the ensuing possession, drove to the lane and rolled in a layup from the top of the key. Senior guard Sammy Kozlowski picked off the last-ditch effort to seal the upset victory. Kozlowski added nine points and a team high seven assists.

The Bulldogs shot 40 percent from the field while the Bison shot 58 percent. Each team nailed seven three-pointers but UMD converted at the free throw line down the stretch. The Bulldogs were 15-for-18 at the charity stripe including 12-for-14 in the second half. 

NDSU, which opens it season against Mayville State University one week from tonight, was led by Michelle Gaislerova's game high 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting. Rylee Nudell also reached double figures with 15 points, and Marina Fernandez compiled a game high eight assists but committed a game high seven turnovers in the loss.

UMD has a few more exhibition matches before starting the regular season on the road at Northern Michigan University on Nov. 13.