FARGO, N.D. - Minnesota Morris led NCAA Division I North Dakota State after one quarter and were tied midway through the third, but the Bison pulled away for an 81-56 win in a women's basketball exhibition game Thursday night at Scheels Center in Fargo.

Kendra Raths gave the Cougars their first lead on a 3-pointer to make it 7-5. Elli Stevenson and Becca Holland each followed with lay-ins to give UMM an 11-7 edge. The Bison retook the lead late in the first quarter, but a Bailey Miller 3 in the final seconds gave the Cougars a 21-20 lead going into the second quarter.

NDSU scored in the opening seconds of the second stanza and led throughout. A Raths layup pulled the Cougars within 36-32 at halftime.

The Cougars outscored the Bison 6-2 to start the second half to pull even at 38 following a Holland lay-in. Mauren Thiesen later drained a 3 to knot it at 41. The Bison followed with a 10-0 run and would pull away throughout the remainder of the contest to claim the 25-point win.

Thiesen and Raths led the Cougars with 11 points each. Abby Van Kempen led with 12 rebounds and four blocks.

Minnesota Morris has another exhibition game Saturday at North Dakota.