The University of North Dakota women’s basketball team won its Big Sky Conference opener Thursday night in Betty Engelstad Sioux Center by defeating Portland State University 65-61 before 1,435 fans. The Fighting Hawks (6-6) were led by Makailah Dyer, who scored a team-high 18 points. Joining her in double figures for UND was  Fallyn Freije with 13 points and a career-high-tying nine rebounds. Bailey Strand had three triples (9 points) and a career-high five steals. Leading PSU (6-7, 0-1) was Sidney Rielly with 27 points and Courtney West with 14. North Dakota’s Leah Szabla missed her third straight game with an illness. UND returns to action at 2 p.m. Saturday when it hosts Sacramento State University in the Betty. (Check out more photos from Russ Hons here.)