The Oakland University women’s basketball team started the homecoming festivities the right way with a win over the North Dakota State Bison, 68-52.

It was a big night for center Brittany Carnago, who tied the school record for most shots blocked all time with 22. Carnago had four blocks on the night, and four points.

“Carnago got into foul trouble in North Dakota and that really bothered our defense,” said Head Coach Becky Francis.

Carnago managed to limit herself to four fouls at the O’rena, allowing her to play a pivotal role in the Grizzlies defense.

Oakland had trailed by seven at one point in the first half, the largest lead for the Bison.

At the 8:30 mark, the Grizzlies came out on top with a one-point advantage. They never lost the lead again.

The Grizzlies held the lead for most of the game, holding a 30-20 at the end of the first half, their largest at-half lead of the season so far. Oakland is now 7-1 when having the lead at halgtime.

The defense for the Grizzlies stayed stout throughout the game. The closest North Dakota came to tying with Oakland was at the 13:57 mark in the second half, coming within four. The first six minutes of the second half saw Oakland only score eight points to NDSU’s 14.

Star forward Bethany Watterworth scored 24 points for the Grizzlies, as well as getting eight rebounds and one block. Guard Sharise Calhoun wasn’t far behind with 18 points of her own. Calhoun also managed four rebounds, two assists and one steal.

The Grizzlies did not make any three-pointers against the Bison on Saturday.

“In practice this week, the coaches really emphasized us attacking,” said Watterworth. “We are still allowed to shoot a few threes, but our whole game plan is to shoot a three if we can. I thought we were coached really well in that aspect and everyone attacked and got to the free throw line.”

Watterworth had 15 points in the second half alone, making seven of eleven field goals; a total of 11-22 in the entire game.

Janae Burich, center, and center Dani DeGagne led the Bison with 12 points each. DeGagne was 5-13 with field goals and had one steal. Burich was 6-13 for field goals with one assist and three blocks. The Bison only completed 21 the entire game, shooting 33 percent.

The entire game, the Grizzlies only attempted six three-pointers. The majority of points for Oakland came in the paint with 40.

Oakland now extends their Summit League record to 7-4, placing them at a third seed in the conference.

“I don’t look at the standings; I’m the opposite of Kampe,” Francis said. “I don’t follow it because it makes me nervous. I focus on our team getting better every day, and in March, they can tell me what our seed is.”

The next game for the Grizzlies is on Monday, Jan. 28 at 6:30 p.m. against South Dakota State in the O’rena.