SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Denver women's basketball team fell in gut-wrenching fashion, 72-68, to North Dakota State in the Summit League Championship quarterfinals on Sunday afternoon in the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.

The Pioneers finished the season 15-15 and 9-7 in league play.

Senior Madison Nelson led all scorers with 33 points along with 10 rebounds for her 20th double-double of the season and fifth straight. She added four blocks and three steals in the loss.

It was a slow start for Denver, being held scoreless for the opening 2:09 of play. North Dakota State went 3-for-3 from the field over a 1:40 period to take an 11-6 lead to the media timeout.

NDSU closed the first quarter shooting 4-of-4 from the field over the final 3:23 to go to the second quarter ahead 24-13.

The Pioneer defense held the Bison scoreless for 2:44 to cut the deficit to eight, 27-19, at the media timeout with 4:49 to play in the first half. Denver went on an 11-0 run over a 3:35 span to force a NDSU timeout with 2:40 to go in the second quarter.

DU's defense held strong in the second quarter, holding NDSU scoreless for a 5:04 stretch to go into the half down by four, 34-30.

Despite opening the second half on a 7-6 run over the first 5:03, Denver went to the media timeout trailing 40-37. Lauren Loven tied the game at 40-40 with 4:32 to go in the third, the first tie since the 7:15 mark of the first quarter.

The Pioneers got their first lead of the game, 42-40, with 2:47 left on the clock in the third quarter following a Jasmine Jeffcoat layup. After NDSU regained the lead just a minute later, Nelson responded with a 3 just 14 seconds later. NDSU's Nicole Scales hit a layup with 35 seconds remaining in the third quarter to send the game to the final 10 minutes knotted at 47-47.

The two teams saw seven lead changes in the first five minutes of the final quarter as the Bison took a 60-57 advantage to the final media timeout. North Dakota State extened its lead to as much as five on two separate occasions in the final five minutes.

Nelson tied the game with a layup as 46 seconds were left in the game. With 20 seconds remaining, Ryan Cobbins put NDSU back on top 68-66. North Dakota State held on for the 72-68 win.

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