NDSU WBB Opens Summit League Play at Home Against Fort Wayne, IUPUI

Thursday, Jan. 9: Fort Wayne Mastodons (7-7, 0-0 Summit) at North Dakota State Bison (3-11, 0-0 Summit)

Bison Sports Arena | Fargo, N.D. | 7 p.m. CT

Saturday, Jan. 11: IUPUI Jaguars (10-5, 0-0 Summit) at North Dakota State Bison
Bison Sports Arena | Fargo, N.D. | 2 p.m. CT

NDSU Hosts Fort Wayne, IUPUI to Open Summit League Play
        NDSU women's basketball will host the Fort Wayne Mastodons Thursday, Jan. 9, and the IUPUI Jaguars Saturday, Jan. 11, in its first two games of Summit League competition.

Against Fort Wayne
        Thursday's Summit League opener against the Mastodons will mark the 18th meeting all-time between NDSU and Fort Wayne. The Bison lead the series, 12-5.
        Last season, NDSU dropped both games to the Mastodons, falling in Fort Wayne, 65-58, and at home, 70-58.

Against IUPUI
        Saturday's league game against the Jaguars will be the 14th meeting all-time between the Bison and IUPUI. NDSU leads the series, 8-5.
        NDSU split the series last season, winning in Fargo, 71-68, and losing in Indianapolis, 57-40.

About Fort Wayne
        Fort Wayne enters Thursday's game with an overall record of 7-7. The Mastodons have been idle since an 83-75 loss against Ball State Dec. 29.
        The Mastodons are paced by Summit League preseason Player of the Year nominee, Amanda Hyde, who averages an impressive 22.1 points per game. She also leads the team in rebounding with 5.4 boards per game and assists, averaging 4.6 per game. Haley Seibert is the other Mastodon averaging double figures, scoring 12.1 points per game.
        As a team, Fort Wayne averages 79.1 points while holding its opponents to 73.6. On average, the Mastodons are being out-rebounded by their opponents, 36.9 to 32.6.

About IUPUI
        The Jaguars enter the week with an overall record of 10-5 after defeating Youngstown State, 66-57, Jan. 4, in Youngstown, Ohio. IUPUI will face South Dakota State before traveling to Fargo Saturday, Jan. 11, to battle the Bison.
        IUPUI is paced by two players scoring in double figures. DeAirra Gross leads the team, averaging 11.8 points per game, while Nevena Markovic is averaging 11.4 points and a team-high six rebounds per game.
        As a team, the Jaguars are scoring, on average, 71.2 points per game while holding their opponents to just 60.7 per game. IUPUI is out-rebounding its opponents, 38.9 to 31.5.

Last Time Out: NDSU Women's Basketball Falls to Northwestern State in UTSA Holiday Classic, 57-50
        Brooke LeMar matched her career-high, scoring 25 points, but it wasn't enough, as the North Dakota State Bison women's basketball team (3-11) fell to the Northern Colorado Bears (6-5) Thursday evening inside the Bison Sports Arena, 74-70.
        The Bison took an early 6-0 lead with 18:29 remaining in the first half on a three-pointer from Holly Johnson, but the Bears were able to fight back, tying the contest at 15 on a jumper from Rebecca Howell with 13:05 left in the half.
        Northern Colorado took its first lead of the game, 17-15, at the 12:28 mark after Stephanie Lee converted a layup.
        The two teams traded leads until the 4:29 remained in the first stanza. Kyleigh Hiser scored a layup to put the Bears ahead, 31-29, and the Northern Colorado defense held the Bison to just four points the remainder of the half. Northern Colorado went into halftime leading, 37-34.
        LeMar led the Bison in the opening stanza, scoring eight points, while Stephanie Lee paced the Bears with 14 points.
        North Dakota State was 11-for-27 (41 percent) from the field and 4-for-9 (44 percent) from three in the first half. The Bison converted eight of nine free throw attempts.
        Northern Colorado shot 49 percent in the half, going 16-for-33, and were 4-for-8 from three for 50 percent. The Bears attempted only two free throws, making one.
        NDSU cut the Northern Colorado advantage to just one, 43-42, after a three from Kahla Becken with 16:50 to go in the second half, however, the Bears responded, going on a 10-0 run to give them their largest lead of the game, 52-42, with 13:57 on the clock.
        The Bison were able to trim the Bear lead to 57-56 with 10 minutes to go in the second half when LeMar drilled a three and, a minute later, Emily Spier gave NDSU its first lead since the 8:59 mark of the first half, 61-60, after she made a pair of free throws.
        The two teams traded leads until 4:14 remained in the second half, when the Bears' Lee hit a jumper to regain a 71-70 advantage. Northern Colorado maintained the lead the final four minutes of the game, sealing the 74-70 win.
        LeMar's 25 points led NDSU in the game, while Johnson and Becken also reached double figures, scoring 12 and 11, respectively.
        The 25 points from LeMar marked the fifth game she has scored at least 20 points this season.
        The Bison shot 38 percent from the field for the game, going 23-for-60, and were 8-for-20 (40 percent) from beyond the arc. NDSU made 16-of-18 free throws for 89 percent.
        Northern Colorado was paced by Lee, who scored a game-high 34 points.
        The Bears were 29-for-58 (50 percent) from the field and 4-for-12 (33 percent) from three.
        Northern Colorado made 12-of-18 free throws for 67 percent.

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 72 assists through 14 games. She is averaging 5.1 assists per game. The Canyon Country, Calif., native leads the team in scoring, averaging 15.6 points per game and has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.8. LeMar is shooting 44 percent from three and 43 percent from the field. She has started in all 14 games for the Bison.

Crashing the Boards
        Miki Stephenson is the top rebounder for NDSU through 14 games, averaging 6.4 board per game. Marena Whittle is second on the team in rebounding, averaging 6.2 per game.

Bison in The Summit League Statistics
Relevant Team Statistics:

Scoring Offense: 6th (69.4 points per game)
Scoring Defense: 5th (72.1 points per game)
Free Throw Percentage: 1st (166-222, 74.8 percent)
Field Goal Percentage: 6th (359-892, 40.2 percent)
Three Point Field Goal Percentage: 3rd (88-254, 34.6 percent)
Rebounding: 4th (39.1 per game)
Blocked Shots: 3rd (3.4 per game)
Assist-to-Turnover Ratio: 2nd (1.1 ratio)
Assists: 6th (13.4 per game)

Relevant Individual Statistics

Scoring Offense: Brooke LeMar (4th, 15.6 points per game)
Rebounding: Miki Stephenson (6th, 6.4 per game), Marena Whittle (7th, 6.2 per game)
Assists: Brooke LeMar (1st, 5.1 per game)
Three Point Field Goal Percentage: Brooke LeMar (T-3rd, 44.4 percent), Marena Whittle (7th, 40 percent)
Blocked Shots: Marena Whittle (7th, 0.9 per game), Miki Stephenson (8th, 0.8 per game)
Assists-to-Turnover Ratio: Brooke LeMar (3rd, 1.8 ratio)
Minutes Played: Brooke LeMar (6th, 32.6 per game)

Crunching the Numbers
        Through 14 games, North Dakota State is averaging 69.4 points per game (ppg) and 39.1 rebounds per game (rpg). The Bison are shooting 40.2 percent from the field, going 359-892, and are 88-254 from three for 34.6 percent. NDSU is excelling at the free throw line, going 166-222 for 74.8 percent. NDSU only averages 12.3 turnovers per game but has struggled rebounding the basketball, averaging just 39.1 rpg.
        Individually, Brooke LeMar paces NDSU in scoring, averaging 15.6 ppg and also has a team-high 72 assists. The leading rebounders for the Bison are Miki Stephenson (6.4 rpg) and Marena Whittle (6.2 rpg). Whittle also has a team-high 12 steals and 12 blocks.

NDSU in Summit League Openers
        The Bison are 4-2 in Summit League openers dating back to their first season in the league in 2007-08. Last season, NDSU lost its opener at South Dakota State in Brookings, 76-57. The Bison's last league-opening win occurred in the 2010-11 season when NDSU defeated South Dakota State, 78-71, in Brookings.
        Thursday's game against Fort Wayne will mark the first time since the 2008-2009 campaign the Bison will open Summit League play at home inside the Bison Sports Arena. That season, NDSU won its league opener at home against former Summit League member, Centenary, 87-40.

NDSU at Home
        North Dakota State has compiled a 408-78 (.840) record at home, including a 104-39 mark inside the "Friendly Confines" over the past 10 seasons good for a .727 winning percentage. The Bison are 1-3 at home this season.

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 69-92 record overall including a 46-42 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
        Both games this week can be heard live on KVOX 740-AM "The Fan" in Fargo-Moorhead. Jack Michaels will provide play-by-play and Jeremy Jorgenson will handle color commentary duties. Pregame for Thursday's game against Fort Wayne is 6:40 p.m. while Saturday's game against IUPUI will air at 1:40 p.m.

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.

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