North Dakota State Athletics
South Dakota
Bison Women's Basketball Entertains South Dakota Thursday to Closeout January
1/28/2014 5:31:00 PM | Women's Basketball
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Thursday, Jan. 30: South Dakota Coyotes (10-10, 1-4 Summit) at North Dakota State Bison (5-15, 1-4 Summit) Bison Sports Arena (5,830) | Fargo, N.D. | 7:05 p.m. **Summit League Game** |
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Media Coverage: Live Stats | Live Audio (Free) | Live Video (PPV) | Radio: KVOX 740-AM (Jack Michaels, play-by-play / Jeremy Jorgenson, color commentary) TV: None NDSU Game Notes (PDF) | NDSU Season Stats | USD Game Notes (PDF) | USD Season Stats | Summit League Weekly Notes (PDF) |
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Social Media: @NDSUAthletics | @NDSUwbb | @SummitHoops |
NDSU Faces South Dakota Thursday in Summit League Action
The North Dakota State women's basketball team will take on the South Dakota Coyotes in Summit League action Thursday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m. inside the Bison Sports Arena.
The Series Against South Dakota
Thursday's game against the Coyotes will be the 61st meeting all-time in a series dating back to 1977. The Bison lead the series, 41-19. Last season, NDSU went 1-2 against the 'Yotes, losing in Fargo, 73-52, winning at USD, 57-50, and falling in The Summit League Tournament first round in Sioux Falls, S.D., 73-53.
About the 'Yotes
South Dakota enters the week with an overall record of 10-10 and a league mark of 1-4. USD defeated Omaha Saturday, Jan. 25, 75-51, to snap a four-game losing streak and pick up its first league victory.
The Coyotes are paced by three players averaging double figures. Nicole Seekamp, a preseason All-Summit League first team selection, is averaging 14.1 points per game (ppg) to lead the team while Raeshel Contreras is averaging 12.6 ppg and Polly Harrington,, a preseason All-Summit League second team selection, is averaging 11.6 per game. The top rebounder for USD is Tia Hemiller, who is averaging 6.1 boards per game.
As a team, the 'Yotes are averaging 72.4 ppg while limiting their opponents to 71.5 per game.
Last Time Out: Bison Women Falter Against No. 22 South Dakota State in Katherine Burgum Classic, 73-53
The North Dakota State women's basketball team (5-15, 1-4 Summit) fell to the 22nd-ranked South Dakota State Jackrabbits (14-7, 5-0 Summit), 73-53, Saturday, Jan. 25, in the eighth-annual Katherine Burgum Classic at the Bison Sports Arena.
NDSU fell behind early in the game by as much as 12 but used an 11-4 run the final seven minutes of the first half to pull within one of the Jackrabbit lead at halftime, 31-30.
SDSU responded in the second half, using a 17-6 run spanning 6:07 to take a 53-41 lead with 8:50 remaining. The Bison pulled within nine, 56-47, with 5:15 to go in the stanza, but that was as close as they could get the remainder of the game.
Brooke LeMar paced the Bison with 20 points on 6-for-14 shooting, the eighth time this season the California native has scored at least 20 in a single game.
Holly Johnson was the other Bison to reach double figures, netting 13 points. Johnson and Marena Whittle each pulled down eight rebounds in the contest for NDSU.
The Jacks were led by Kerri Young with a game-high 23 points.
Both LeMar and Young garnered Katherine Burgum Classic Most Valuable Player Honors.
NDSU was 18-for-66 (27 percent) from the field and 5-for-23 (22 percent) from three-point range. The Bison attempted 16 free throws, making 12, for 75 percent.
The Bison struggled on the glass and were out-rebounded by the Jacks, 57-35, in the contest.
The Summit Scoring Blues
NDSU has struggled scoring the basketball in Summit League play, going only 121-for-345 from the field for 35.1 percent. The Bison are 25-for-97 from three for just 25.8 percent.
North Dakota State is averaging 63.8 points per game in league play compared to 77 from its opponents.
Taking Care of the Basketball
The Bison lead the league in fewest turnovers per game, averaging just 12.9, while forcing their opponents into 13.6 miscues per contest. NDSU is ranked 17th 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 Monday, Jan. 27.
Taking Advantage of the Charity Stripe
The Bison are second in the league in free throw percentage, going 230-310 for an impressive 74.2 percent. NDSU is ranked 39th nationally in free throw percentage in the latest NCAA national rankings.
Individually, Marena Whittle leads the team in free throw percentage, going 40-for-48 from the charity stripe for 83.3 percent.
Scoring at Will
Brooke LeMar netted 20 points in the contest against South Dakota State Saturday, Jan. 25. LeMar has now scored at least 20 points in a game eight times this season.
LeMar previously scored 20 or more points against Montana (21), Milwaukee (25), Northern Iowa (24), Mississippi State (21), Northern Colorado (25), Western Illinois (21) and Valley City State (21).
Distributing the Basketball
Brooke LeMar had a combined nine assists in NDSU's two games last week. She has dished out at least five assists in nine games this season. The Canyon Country, Calif., native leads the herd in assists with 98, and averages 4.9 per game. LeMar is second in the league in assists per game and ranks 65th nationally in the latest NCAA rankings.
Shot Blocker
Marena Whittle leads the Bison in blocked shots with 23. She has swatted at least one shot in three of NDSU's five Summit League games, including four against South Dakota State Saturday. The Victoria, Australia, native averages 1.2 blocks per game.
Miki Stephenson is second on the team in blocked shots with 17.
Steal Leader
Whittle not only leads the team in blocks, she also has a team-high 20 steals in 20 games. She has at least one steal in four of NDSU's five league games.
LeMar (18), Kahla Becken (15), Bree Whatman (13), Holly Johnson (13) and Stephenson (13) have also recorded double figure steals through NDSU's 20 games.
Crashing the Boards
Marena Whittle leads the Bison in rebounding, averaging 6.9 per game. After five games of Summit League play, Whittle is averaging an impressive nine boards in league play. Miki Stephenson is second on the team with six per game.
Bison in The Summit League Statistics
Relevant Team Statistics:
- Scoring Offense: 7th (68.7 points per game)
- Scoring Defense: 6th (72.8 points per game)
- Free Throw Percentage: 2nd (230-310, 74.2 percent)
- Field Goal Percentage: 8th (514-1303, 39.4 percent)
- Three Point Field Goal Percentage: 4th (116-365, 31.8 percent)
- Rebounding: 4th (40 per game)
- Blocked Shots: 3rd (3.6 per game)
- Assist-to-Turnover Ratio: 2nd (1.0 ratio)
- Assists: 7th (13.5 per game)
Relevant Individual Statistics:
- Scoring Offense: Brooke LeMar (4th, 15.3 points per game)
- Rebounding: Marena Whittle (4th, 6.9 per game), Miki Stephenson (9th, 6.0 per game)
- Assists: Brooke LeMar (2nd, 4.9 per game)
- Three Point Field Goal Percentage: Brooke LeMar (T-5th, 42.9 percent)
- Blocked Shots: Marena Whittle (3rd, 1.2 per game), Miki Stephenson (7th, 0.9 per game)
- Assists-to-Turnover Ratio: Brooke LeMar (4th, 1.6 ratio)
- Minutes Played: Brooke LeMar (5th, 33.5 per game)
Crunching the Numbers
Through 20 games, North Dakota State is averaging 68.7 points per game (ppg) and 40 rebounds per game (rpg). The Bison are shooting 39.4 percent from the field, going 514-1303, and are 116-365 from three for 31.8 percent. NDSU is excelling at the free throw line, going 230-310 for 74.2 percent. NDSU only averages 12.9 turnovers per game.
Individually, Brooke LeMar paces NDSU in scoring, averaging 15.3 ppg and also has a team-high 98 assists. She has led the Bison in scoring in 10 games this season. The leading rebounders for the Bison are Marena Whittle (6.9 rpg) and Miki Stephenson (6 rpg). Whittle also has a team-high 23 blocks and 20 steals and has been NDSU's top rebounder in nine contests this season.
NDSU at Home
North Dakota State has compiled a 409-80 (.836) record at home, including a 105-41 mark inside the "Friendly Confines" over the past 10 seasons good for a .719 winning percentage.
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 71-96 record overall including a 47-46 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
Thursday's contest against the Coyotes will be aired live on KVOX 740-AM "The Fan" beginning at 6:40 p.m. Jack Michaels will provide play-by-play with Jeremy Jorgenson handling color commentary duties.
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.
- 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 faces league newcomer Denver to close out a four-game homestand Saturday, Feb. 1, at 2 p.m. inside the Bison Sports Arena.
