North Dakota State Athletics
Western Illinois
Bison Face Western Illinois Saturday Afternoon in Macomb
1/17/2014 9:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball
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Saturday, Jan. 18: North Dakota State Bison (3-14, 0-3 Summit) at Western Illinois Leathernecks (9-8, 1-1 Summit) Western Hall | Macomb, Ill. |
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Media Coverage: Live Stats | Live Audio (Free) | Live Video (PPV) | Radio: KVOX 740-AM "The Fan" (Jack Michaels, play-by-play) | TV: None NDSU Game Notes (PDF) | WIU Game Notes (PDF) | NDSU Season Stats | WIU Season Stats | Summit League Weekly Notes (PDF) |
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Social Media: @NDSUAthletics | @NDSUwbb | @SummitHoops |
NDSU Closes Out Road Trip at Western Illinois Saturday
The North Dakota State women's basketball team will close out a two-game road trip with a 4:30 p.m. Summit League game at Western Illinois Saturday, Jan. 18, in Macomb, Ill.
The Series Against Western Illinois
Saturday's game at Western Illinois will be the 14th meeting in the all-time series. The Bison lead the Leathernecks in the series, 8-5. NDSU was swept by WIU last season, falling at home, 85-83, and in Macomb, 55-50.
NDSU's last victory against WIU occurred in the 2011-12 season when the Bison defeated the Leathernecks in Fargo, 73-53.
About the Leathernecks
Western Illinois enters Saturday's league contest with an overall record of 9-8 and are 1-1 in The Summit League after falling to No. 24 South Dakota State Thursday, 67-66.
The Leathernecks are paced in scoring by a trio of players in double figures. Ashley Luke, a first-team preseason All-Summit League selection, leads the team, averaging 19.9 points per game (ppg) and 10.6 rebounds per game (rpg). Luke is ranked fourth in the nation in double-doubles (12). Tori Niemann and Michelle Maher are the other two WIU players averaging double figures, scoring 13.2, and 13.1 ppg, respectively. The Leathernecks' Rebecca Henricson is the national leader in assist-to-turnover ratio, with a ratio of 4.00.
As a team, WIU is averaging 81.6 ppg while limiting its opponents to just 70.4 per game. The Leathernecks and their opponents are each averaging 39.7 rpg.
Western Illinois is ranked first in the league in points per game (81.6), steals per game (10.8) and assists per game (19.1).
Last Time Out: Second Half Run Not Enough as Bison Women Fall at Omaha, 66-48
The North Dakota State women's basketball team (3-14, 0-3 Summit) suffered a 66-48 loss Thursday, Jan. 16, to the Omaha Mavericks (9-7, 1-1 Summit) inside Sapp Fieldhouse.
After falling behind by nine at halftime, 31-22, the Bison used an 11-0 run in the second half, beginning with a Marena Whittle jumper with 14:52 remaining, to cut the Omaha advantage to just three, 40-37, with 13:04 on the clock.
That would be the closest the Bison would get, though, as Omaha outscored NDSU, 26-11, the remainder of the second half to secure the victory.
NDSU was led by three players in double figures. Holly Johnson scored a team-high 11 points, while Whittle and Kahla Becken each had 10, respectively.
The Bison went 21-for-72 from the field for only 29 percent and were just 3-for-21 (14 percent) from three. NDSU went 3-for-5 from the free throw line for 60 percent.
Ericka House led the Mavs, scoring a game-high 23 points.
Sluggish Start
In their first three Summit League games, the Bison are only shooting 34 percent from the field, going 73-for-212. NDSU is also just 10-for-49 from beyond the arc (20 percent). In contrast, the Bison's foes are shooting 43 percent from the field (81-189) and 34 percent from three-point range (17-49).
Taking Care of the Basketball
The Bison lead the league in fewest turnovers per game, averaging just 12.8, while forcing their opponents into 13.1 miscues per contest. NDSU is ranked 16th out of 343 women's basketball programs in fewest turnovers per game in the latest NCAA Division I Women's Basketball national statistics rankings released Friday, Jan. 17.
Taking Advantage of the Charity Stripe
The Bison are second in the league in free throw percentage, going 193-for-259 for an impressive 74.5 percent. NDSU is ranked 38th nationally in free throw percentage in the latest NCAA national rankings.
Individually, Marena Whittle leads the team and is tied for first in The Summit League in free throw percentage, going an impressive 33-for-37 from the charity stripe for 89.2 percent.
Record Setter
Marena Whittle scored a career-high 33 points on 11-for-22 shooting against Fort Wayne Thursday, Jan. 9. Whittle has now reached double figure scoring in nine games this season.
The 33 points scored was the most points in a game since the 2011 season, when Abby Plucker scored 34 against Western Illinois.
Whittle also matched her career-high in rebounds in the game, pulling down 15 boards against the Mastodons, to complete the double-double.
20 Times Five
Brooke LeMar scored 25 points in the loss against Northern Colorado Jan. 2. It marked the fifth time this season she has eclipsed the 20-point threshold.
LeMar previously scored 20 or more points against Montana (21), Milwaukee (25), Northern Iowa (24) and Mississippi State (21).
Sharing the Ball
Brooke LeMar leads the Bison with 82 assists through 17 games. She is averaging 4.8 assists per game. The Canyon Country, Calif., native leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.3 points per game and has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.6. She has started in all 17 games for the Bison.
Crashing the Boards
Marena Whittle leads the Bison in rebounding, averaging 6.8 per game. After NDSU's opening three games of Summit League play, Whittle is averaging an impressive 9.3 boards in league play. Miki Stephenson is second on the team with 5.8 per game.
On the Road Again
NDSU will play away from the Bison Sports Arena for the 10th time this season when it faces Western Illinois Saturday afternoon inside Western Hall. The Bison have only played at home six times in 2013-14. NDSU has played at least one game in every time zone passing through the continental United States.
Bison in The Summit League Statistics
Relevant Team Statistics:
- Scoring Offense: 7th (67.9 points per game)
- Scoring Defense: 6th (73.2 points per game)
- Free Throw Percentage: 2nd (193-259, 74.5 percent)
- Field Goal Percentage: 8th (432-1104, 39.1 percent)
- Three Point Field Goal Percentage: 3rd (98-303, 32.3 percent)
- Rebounding: 5th (39.4 per game)
- Blocked Shots: 3rd (3.5 per game)
- Assist-to-Turnover Ratio: 2nd (1.0 ratio)
- Assists: 7th (13.3 per game)
Relevant Individual Statistics:
- Scoring Offense: Brooke LeMar (4th, 14.3 points per game)
- Rebounding: Marena Whittle (4th, 6.8 per game), Miki Stephenson (9th, 5.8 per game)
- Assists: Brooke LeMar (3rd, 4.8 per game)
- Three Point Field Goal Percentage: Brooke LeMar (4th, 42.5 percent), Marena Whittle (9th, 35.7 percent)
- Free Throw Percentage: Marena Whittle (T-1st, 89.2 percent)
- Blocked Shots: Marena Whittle (T-3rd, 1.1 per game), Miki Stephenson (10th, 0.7 per game)
- Assists-to-Turnover Ratio: Brooke LeMar (4th, 1.6 ratio)
- Minutes Played: Brooke LeMar (6th, 32.6 per game)
Crunching the Numbers
Through 17 games, North Dakota State is averaging 67.9 points per game (ppg) and 39.4 rebounds per game (rpg). The Bison are shooting 39.1 percent from the field, going 432-1104, and are 98-303 from three for 32.3 percent. NDSU is excelling at the free throw line, going 193-259 for 74.5 percent. NDSU only averages 12.8 turnovers per game.
Individually, Brooke LeMar paces NDSU in scoring, averaging 14.3 ppg and also has a team-high 82 assists. She has led the Bison in scoring in seven games this season. The leading rebounders for the Bison are Marena Whittle (6.8 rpg) and Miki Stephenson (5.8 rpg). Whittle also has a team-high 18 blocks and 17 steals and has been NDSU's top rebounder in seven contests this season.
NDSU at Home
North Dakota State has compiled a 408-80 (.836) record at home, including a 104-41 mark inside the "Friendly Confines" over the past 10 seasons good for a .717 winning percentage.
NDSU Women's Basketball Inks Three on Early Signing Day
North Dakota State women's basketball head coach Carolyn DeHoff announced Wednesday, Nov. 13, the signing of Olivia Baker, McKenna Happke and Taylor Thunstedt to National Letters of Intent to attend North Dakota State University and play basketball beginning in fall 2014.
Baker, a 6-foot-4 post player from Minnetonka, Minn., is a four-year letterwinner on the basketball court at Minnetonka High School. She has played varsity basketball all four years at Minnetonka.
Happke, a 6-1 forward from Coon Rapids, Minn., is a two-time all-conference selection at Providence Academy in Plymouth, Minn. Happke was part of the 2012 Class 2A state champion basketball team, a member of the team that took fourth at the state tournament in 2011 and third at state last season. Happke has been named the team captain her upcoming senior year.
Thunstedt, a 5-8 guard from Spicer, Minn., is a three-time all-conference selection at New London-Spicer. She is also a three-time, first-team all-area honoree and garnered all-state accolades her sophomore and junior seasons after honorable mention as a freshman. Thunstedt set a new single-game scoring record at New London-Spicer her junior year, scoring 50 points in a game against Glencoe-Silver Lake. She also set a new record for 3-pointers attempted in a season (119) and broke the all-time school scoring record. Thunstedt averaged 29 points and made 104 threes that year.
Bison Eighth in Summit League Preseason Poll
The North Dakota State women's basketball team was tabbed eighth in The Summit League preseason poll released Tuesday, Oct. 15 by the league office. The Bison received 74 points in the poll.
NDSU returns nine student-athletes from last season's team, including one starter in sophomore forward Marena Whittle. She started 26-of-29 games in 2012-13, averaging 6.7 points and 7.1 rebounds.
South Dakota State was picked to win the league after claiming its record fifth-consecutive Summit League tournament title and fourth regular season title in six years. The Jackrabbits collected 27-of-30 first-place votes and 319 points in the voting conducted by the league's head coaches, SIDs and media.
IUPUI was picked to finish runner-up in the poll, collecting three first-place votes and 276 points, after finishing second in the regular season a year ago. South Dakota was third with 224 points followed by Fort Wayne in fourth with 179. League newcomer Denver, Western Illinois, Omaha and the Bison rounded out the poll.
Fort Wayne's Amanda Hyde was voted as the league's preseason Player of the Year after garnering Player of the Year and first team All-Summit League honors last season.
Accompanying Hyde on the first team are IUPUI's DeAirra Goss, 2013 Newcomer of the Year Western Illinois' Ashley Luke, last season's Tournament MVP South Dakota's Nicole Seekamp, Denver's Morgan Van Riper-Rose and South Dakota State's Megan Waytashek.
The second team is composed of reigning Defensive Player of the Year in IUPUI's Dee-Dee Bellamy, South Dakota's Polly Harrington, Omaha's Ericka House, South Dakota State's Steph Paluch and Fort Wayne's Haley Seibert.
The DeHoff File
Carolyn DeHoff begins her sixth season as head women's basketball coach at North Dakota State University. She has compiled a 69-95 record overall including a 46-44 ledger in The Summit League.
The Bison finished the 2013 season with an overall record of 10-19 and were 6-10 in league play. Seniors Dani DeGagne and Katie Birkel were both named to the All-Summit League second team.
NDSU once again excelled in the classroom in 2013. The Bison placed 10th on the WBCA Academic Top 25 Honor Roll in NCAA Division I and had eight student-athletes named to The Summit League Commissioner's List of Academic Excellence. Nine Bison were also selected to the Winter/Spring Summit League Academic Honor Roll.
DeHoff was introduced as North Dakota State University's ninth head women's basketball coach in the program's 48-year history at a press conference in April 2008.
DeHoff replaced Women's Basketball Hall of Fame coach Amy Ruley, who resigned in March 2008 to accept an associate athletic director for development position at North Dakota State.
DeHoff completed her first season as associate head coach in 2007-08 and fifth overall on Elaine Elliott's Utah staff. The Utes finished 27-5 overall and won the Mountain West Conference regular season championship with a 16-0 record. Utah lost in the first round of the 2008 NCAA tournament. Her duties at Utah included coordinating recruiting efforts, point guard development, organization and planning of the schedule, coordination of academic affairs and directing summer camps.
During her stay in Salt Lake City, the Utes won 123 games, three regular season conference championships and one MWC tournament title. Utah made three trips to the NCAA tournament including an Elite Eight berth in 2006 and a WNIT appearance in 2007. The Utes also had a pair of WNBA first round draft picks, along with second round pick in the 2008 draft.
Her 18-year coaching resume includes a five-year stop at Weber State. The Wildcats went from a sub-.500 program to a back-to-back NCAA tournament participant. Weber State won consecutive Big Sky titles and posted back-to-back 20 win seasons.
Prior to Weber State, DeHoff was the top assistant at Wyoming for seven seasons and also was an assistant coach at Coronado High School in Scottsdale, Ariz.
A standout high school player at Cheyenne (Wyo.) East, DeHoff was a Street & Smith's All-America her senior year. She played at Arizona State University from 1987-90, where she was a captain.
A native of Cheyenne, DeHoff graduated from Arizona State in 1991 with a bachelor's degree in exercise science and physical education. She was inducted into her high school athletic hall of fame during the fall of 2008.
Bison Basketball on the Radio
Saturday's game at Western Illinois can be heard live on KVOX 740-AM "The Fan" beginning at 4:10 p.m. in Fargo-Moorhead. Jack Michaels will provide play-by-play.
Following The Herd
- NDSU women's basketball games can be heard live on KVOX 740-AM "The Fan" or KFGO 790-AM throughout the season.
- Free live audio is also available for every NDSU women's basketball game at GoBison.com/allaccess.
- The Bison's home game against South Dakota State, Jan. 25, will be aired throughout the state of North Dakota on MeTV. In addition, all games in The Summit League Women's Basketball Championship, Mar. 8-11, will be televised on Fox College Sports and Midco Sports Network.
- All home North Dakota State women's basketball games will be streamed live on a pay-per-view basis at GoBison.com/allaccess. Live stats are available free of charge for every home basketball game. Postgame video highlights, recaps and interviews will also be available at GoBison.com following each home game.
Up Next
NDSU returns home to the Bison Sports Arena Wednesday, Jan. 22, for a 7 p.m. non –conference game against Valley City State University.
