FARGO, N.D. (Interstat) — A stark contrast in fortunes will be on display Saturday when the Summit League’s top team, North Dakota State, hosts struggling North Dakota in a women’s basketball rivalry game at Scheels Arena.

The Bison (22-3 overall) enter the contest as one of the conference’s dominant forces, while the Fighting Hawks (7-22) seek to salvage pride and disrupt their in-state foe’s momentum. The matchup is a quick rematch of a Feb. 15 meeting in Grand Forks, which North Dakota State won decisively, 87-51.

North Dakota State’s season, however, hit a rare stumble in its last outing, a 59-44 home loss to South Dakota State on Wednesday. That defeat snapped a seven-game winning streak. Guard Jocelyn Schiller, a key player for the Bison, was held to nine points in that loss. She averaged 12.3 points in three February games prior and scored 14 in the earlier win over North Dakota.

The Fighting Hawks, meanwhile, are mired in a five-game losing streak following a 80-66 home loss to South Dakota on Wednesday. Guard Sydney Piekny led North Dakota with 15 points in that contest. She has been a bright spot during the skid, averaging 12.4 points over her last five games, including an 18-point performance in a win at Missouri-Kansas City on Feb. 7.

North Dakota’s challenges are underscored by its recent results, having lost its last four games by an average of 27.5 points. Defense has been a persistent issue; the team has allowed 80 or more points in three of those losses.

Conversely, North Dakota State’s defense has been a cornerstone of its success. Before conceding 59 points to South Dakota State, the Bison had held opponents under 70 points in 12 consecutive games.

Saturday’s game will test whether the Fighting Hawks can muster a competitive response against a league powerhouse that has already handily defeated them this season, or if the Bison will quickly return to their winning ways in front of a home crowd. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. local time.