North Dakota State Athletics
South Dakota
Bison Women's Basketball Travels to South Dakota Thursday
2/25/2014 3:29:00 PM | Women's Basketball
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Thursday, Feb. 27: North Dakota State Bison (6-21, 2-10 Summit) at South Dakota Coyotes (15-12, 6-6 Summit) Dakota Dome (10,000) | Vermillion, S.D. | 7 p.m. **Summit League Game** |
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Media Coverage: Live Stats | Live Audio | Live Video | Radio: KMJO 104.7 FM (Jack Michaels, play-by-play) 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 |
Bison Women Travel to South Dakota Thursday
The Bison women's basketball team will travel to Vermillion, S.D., Thursday, Feb. 27, for a 7 p.m. Summit League game against the Coyotes of South Dakota. The game marks the second-to-last regular season contest for NDSU.
The Series Against South Dakota
Thursday's game against the Yotes will be the 62nd meeting in the all-time series. NDSU leads the series, 41-20, but have lost the last two meetings against USD, including an 83-70 setback on Jan. 30 in Fargo.
About the Coyotes
South Dakota enters Thursday's game with an overall record of 15-12 and are 6-6 in Summit League play. The Coyotes are coming off a 79-76 victory at Western Illinois Saturday, Feb. 22. They have won four of their last five games.
Leading the Yotes is All-Summit League preseason first team selection Nicole Seekamp. The Aussie is averaging a team-high 14.8 points per game (ppg) and 3.9 rebounds per game (rpg). Raeshel Contreras is second on the team in scoring, tallying an average of 13 ppg, while Polly Harrington rounds out the Coyotes averaging double figures with 11.6 ppg. Tia Hemiller is the top rebounder for USD, averaging 6.5 rpg.
The Coyotes lead the league in rebounds, averaging 40.6 per game, and are third in scoring offense with 73.6 ppg. USD is holding its opponents to an average of 71.4 ppg, fourth-best in the league.
Last Time Out: Bison Women Fall at South Dakota State, 75-53
The North Dakota State women's basketball team (6-21, 2-10 Summit) was outscored by the South Dakota State Jackrabbits (20-8, 11-1 Summit) at the free throw line, 28-13, helping the Jacks to a 75-53 victory over the Bison Saturday, Feb. 22, inside Frost Arena in Brookings.
The Bison were led by Holly Johnson with 17 points on 8-for-13 shooting while Marena Whittle scored 14 points and snagged a team-high seven rebounds. Brooke LeMar also reached double figures, tallying 12 points and five assists.
NDSU was 19-for-55 from the field for 35 percent but only 2-for-18 (11 percent) from three-point range. The Bison were 81 percent from the free-throw line, making 13 out of 16 attempts.
South Dakota State, ranked 15th in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 Poll, went 22-for-54 from the field for 41 percent. SDSU, like NDSU, struggled shooting the ball from the perimeter, making only three treys out of 14 tries for 21 percent.
The Jackrabbits offset their poor perimeter shooting at the foul line, going an impressive 28-for-32 for 88 percent.
South Dakota State was paced by Chynna Stevens, who scored a career-best 18 points, including going 11-for-12 at the free throw line.
Last Time Against South Dakota: South Dakota Uses Hot Three-Point Shooting to Down Bison Women, 83-70
The North Dakota State Bison women's basketball team (5-16, 1-5 Summit) suffered an 83-70 loss to the South Dakota Coyotes (11-10, 2-4 Summit) in Summit League action Thursday, Jan. 30, at the Bison Sports Arena.
The 'Yotes shot a blistering 53 percent from beyond the arc in the contest, making 10 out of 19 attempts. South Dakota went 48 percent from the field, going 30-for-62.
Four Bison posted double-figure scoring in the game. Holly Johnson, Marena Whittle and Brooke LeMar each tallied 13 points to lead NDSU while Miki Stephenson added 11. LeMar also dished out 10 assists, one shy of her season-high, to complete her first double-double of the season. Stephenson led NDSU on the glass, snagging eight rebounds.
The Coyotes were paced by Raeshel Contreras with a career-high 28 points on 9-for-16 shooting, including a 6-for-9 performance from beyond the arc.
The Bison struggled shooting the ball in the contest, going just 26-for-71 (37 percent) from the field and 7-for-23 (30 percent) from three-point land.
Missed Opportunities
NDSU is shooting 74.7 percent from the free throw line this season, second-best in The Summit League. However, the Bison have only been able to get to the line 392 times compared to 655 trips for their opponents. NDSU has been outscored at the foul line this season, 474-293, including a 232-115 deficit in league play.
The Summit Scoring Blues
NDSU has struggled shooting the basketball in Summit League play this season, making only 289 shots out of 784 attempts for 36.9 percent. The Bison are just 63-for-227 (27.8 percent) from three in league play.
NDSU's opponents are shooting 43.7 percent (306-700) from the field and 30.6 percent from beyond the arc in conference play, going 56-for-183 .
30+ Scoring Performances
With Brooke LeMar's 33 point game against Denver Saturday, Feb. 1, the Bison have now had a player score at least 30 points in three games this season. Holly Johnson had NDSU's first 30+ point performance, scoring a career-high 31 points against Wyoming in the Air Force Classic Dec. 7. Marena Whittle followed Johnson, tallying a career-best 33 points in the double-overtime contest with Fort Wayne Jan. 9 to open Summit League play before LeMar posted 33 Saturday.
Exceeding the 20 Point Threshold
Brooke LeMar has scored at least 20 points in nine of NDSU's 24 games this season. She scored 24 against Northern Iowa Nov. 20, 25 at Milwaukee Nov. 23, 21 versus Montana Nov. 29 in the DoubleTree LA Westside Thanksgiving Classic, 21 against SEC foe Mississippi State Dec. 17, 25 against Northern Colorado Jan. 2, 21 against Western Illinois and Valley City State Jan. 18 and 22, 20 against South Dakota State Jan. 25 and a career-best 33 against Denver Feb. 1.
Distributing the Ball
Brooke LeMar leads the Bison and is second in The Summit League in assists, tallying 139 in 27 games. She averages an impressive 5.1 assists per game and has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.5 (139 assists to 93 turnovers). LeMar has dished out at least four assists in 10 of NDSU's 12 league games.
Standing Tall
NDSU has four players with double digit blocked shots through 27 games, led by Marena Whittle with 27 blocks. Miki Stephenson is second with 18 while Emily Spier and Holly Johnson round out the Bison with double figure blocks with 11 each, respectively. As a team, the Bison are averaging 3.3 blocks per game.
Takeaway Leaders
The Bison have six players with at least 12 steals through 27 games, led by Marena Whittle with 29 steals. Brooke LeMar is second with 27 while Kahla Becken is third with 20. Holly Johnson is fourth with 17 while Miki Stephenson and Bree Whatman are tied for fifth with 16 each.
Taking Care of the Ball
Bison women's basketball has been exceptional at taking care of the basketball and are among the national leaders in fewest turnovers per game. Through 27 contests, NDSU is averaging a Summit League-best 13.3 turnovers per game and ranks 31st nationally out of 343 NCAA Division I women's basketball programs for fewest turnovers per game.
Bison in The Summit League Statistics
Relevant Team Statistics:
- Scoring Offense: 8th (67.1 points per game)
- Scoring Defense: 6th (73.0 points per game)
- Free Throw Percentage: 2nd (293-492, 74.7 percent)
- Field Goal Percentage: 8th (682-1742, 39.2 percent)
- Three Point Field Goal Percentage: 7th (154-495, 31.1 percent)
- Rebounding: 4th (38.6 per game)
- Blocked Shots: 3rd (3.3 per game)
- Assist-to-Turnover Ratio: 2nd (1.0 ratio)
- Assists: 4th (13.6 per game)
Relevant Individual Statistics:
- Scoring Offense: Brooke LeMar (5th, 15.3 points per game)
- Rebounding: Marena Whittle (4th, 7.0 per game)
- Assists: Brooke LeMar (2nd, 5.1 per game)
- Three Point Field Goal Percentage: Brooke LeMar (7th, 38.0 percent)
- Blocked Shots: Marena Whittle (4th, 1.0 per game), Miki Stephenson (10th, 0.7 per game)
- Assists-to-Turnover Ratio: Brooke LeMar (4th, 1.5 ratio)
- Minutes Played: Brooke LeMar (4th, 34.6 per game)
Crunching the Numbers
Through 27 games, North Dakota State is averaging 67.1 points per game (ppg) and 38.6 rebounds per game (rpg). The Bison are shooting 39.2 percent from the field, going 682-1742, and are 154-495 from three for 31.1 percent. NDSU is excelling at the free throw line, going 293=392 for 74.7 percent. NDSU only averages 13.3 turnovers per game.
Individually, Brooke LeMar paces NDSU in scoring, averaging 15.3 ppg and also has a team-high 139 assists. She has led the Bison in scoring in 13 games this season. The leading rebounders for the Bison are Marena Whittle (7.0 rpg) and Miki Stephenson (5.7 rpg). Whittle also has a team-high 27 blocks and 29 steals and has been NDSU's top rebounder in 13 contests this season.
Carolyn DeHoff Resigns as North Dakota State Women's Basketball Coach, Effective April 15
North Dakota State University director of women's athletics Lynn Dorn announced Thursday, Feb. 20 head women's basketball coach Carolyn DeHoff has resigned effective April 15.
DeHoff is in her sixth year at NDSU.
DeHoff came to NDSU prior to the 2008-09 season after coaching at the University of Utah (2003-08), Weber State University (1998-03), the University of Wyoming (1991-98) and Coronado High School in Scottsdale, Ariz. (1990-91).
A native of Cheyenne, Wyo., DeHoff was a standout high school player at Cheyenne East and played at Arizona State University from 1987-90, where she was a team captain.
NDSU at Home
North Dakota State has compiled a 410-84 (.830) record at home, including a 106-45 mark inside the "Friendly Confines" over the past 10 seasons good for a .702 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.
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.
The DeHoff File
Carolyn DeHoff is in her sixth season as head women's basketball coach at North Dakota State University. She has compiled a 72-102 record overall including a 48-50 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 game will be broadcast live on 104.7 FM in Fargo-Moorhead beginning at 6:40 p.m. Jack Michaels will provide play-by-play.
Up Next
NDSU closes out the regular season Saturday, March 1, at Summit League newcomer Denver. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. CT (1 p.m. MT) in Magness Arena.
