MIAMI SHORES, Fla. UND's quickness, shooting and defense were too much for Barry University here Saturday night as the defending Division II national champion Sioux took an easy 79-49 women's basketball win.
The win improved UND to 5-1, with the Sioux concluding their Florida road trip tonight with a game at Lynn University.
The Sioux had a chance to take in some of the Miami area beachfront on Friday, and their game against Barry simply was a night at the beach.
UND's transition game, its defense and shooting all were in sync against the Lady Buccaneers, who dropped to 4-3.
But the best part of UND's game was its intensity, which helped the Sioux open the game with a 12-2 run. "Our intensity was much better than it has been," UND assistant coach Darcy Deutsch said.
Jenny Crouse and Tiffany Pudenz led the Sioux with 14 points each. They were the only two UND players in double figures, but the lopsided game gave Sioux coach Gene Roebuck a chance to play everyone extensively. Eight of the Sioux players saw 17 or more minutes of court time.
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"We played well as a team," Deutsch said. "Our transition game was really good. We looked to force the tempo. We moved the ball well and got everyone involved.
"And we made them take some tough shots. Their go-to player is (6-foot) Angelina Williams and our post defense was very good. Jenny and Kami (Winger) played good inside defense."
Williams, who averaged 14.0 points entering the game, made only 4 of 21 from the field, but led Barry with 11 points.
The Sioux led 44-14 at halftime, helped by their 18-for-33 field-goal shooting (55 percent).
UND's defense also was sharp in the first half. In addition to forcing 14 turnovers, which resulted in a handful of easy Sioux baskets, UND's defense prevented the Lady Buccaneers from getting good shots.
"We made them take tough shots," Deutsch said.
And when Barry did shoot, usually its shots were off the mark. Barry made only 3 of 25 from the field in the first half (12 percent).
UND used all of its players in the first half, and eight scored. Jones made a big impact midway through the half, scoring back-to-back baskets for a 25-9 lead.
For the game, UND made 52 percent of its shots while Barry, which finished 21-10 last year, shot only 25 percent from the floor.