Sunday, January 11
Denver, Colo.
2 p.m.
North Dakota State
at
Denver
Photo by: Richard Svaleson
NDSU Heads to Denver Sunday for First Summit League Road Test of Season
1/9/2015 4:48:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Game 16: at Denver (5-12, 2-1 Summit League)
Sunday, Jan. 11 | 1 p.m. MT (2 p.m. CT)
Magness Arena | Denver, Colo.
Live Stats | Free Live Audio | Live Video
Radio: 790 KFGO (Jack Michaels, play-by-play), 1:40 p.m. CT airtime
TV: None
NDSU Notes (PDF) | Denver Notes (PDF) | Summit League Weekly Notes (PDF)
NDSU WBB on Twitter | #SummitWBB on Twitter
NDSU Heads to Denver Sunday for First Summit League Road Test of Season
NDSU women's basketball (7-8, 3-0 Summit League) will travel to Denver on Sunday, Jan. 11, for their first Summit League road contest of the season against the Denver Pioneers (5-12, 2-1 Summit League). Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. MT (2 p.m. CT) inside Magness Arena.
The Series Against Denver
Sunday's game at Denver will be the ninth meeting all-time and third-meeting as Summit League foes for the Bison and Pioneers. NDSU leads the series 6-2 after splitting a two game Summit League set with Denver last season. NDSU beat Denver in Fargo, 85-79, but lost in Denver, 74-87.
About the Pioneers
Denver enters Sunday's game at 5-12 overall and 2-1 in Summit League action after defeating Omaha, 60-53, at home on Thursday.
Through 17 games, Denver is paced in scoring by Paige Bradley with 11.9 points per game (ppg) and Morgan Van Riper-Rose with 10.9 ppg. Alecia Espinoza leads the Pioneers on the boards with 6.2 rebounds per game (rpg).
As a team, Denver is averaging 60.1 ppg, but surrendering 69.1 per game to its opponents. The Pioneers are being outrebounded, on average, 37.7 to 43.5.
Denver is under the leadership of third season head coach Kerry Cremeans (Florida, 1994).
Catching Up With The Bison
The Bison are 7-8 overall and 3-0 in Summit League play after winning their third consecutive game on Thursday at home against IUPUI, 68-63. The 3-0 league start is the best start to league play for North Dakota State since the 2009-10 season when the Bison opened league play 4-0.
Through 15 games, Brooke LeMar leads the Bison and The Summit League and is ranked 37th in the nation in scoring with 19.2 ppg. She also leads the team and the league and ranks 48th in the nation in assists with 4.9 assists per game. LeMar paces the team in free-throw percentage, going 69-for-82 at the line for 84 percent, and three-point percentage, going 27-for-75 from long range for 36 percent. Holly Johnson is second on the team in scoring with 13.1 ppg and rebounding with 6.9 boards per game, while Marena Whittle leads the Bison in rebounding (7.4 rpg), steals (1.9 steals per game) and blocked shots (1.1 blocks per game). Emily Spier leads the Bison in field-goal percentage, making 31-of-64 shot attempts for 48 percent.
Through three Summit League games, NDSU is out-scoring its opponents, 76.0 to 68.3, and dishing out 18 assists compared to just 7.3 for its opponents. The Bison are also forcing an average of 13.7 turnovers though three league contests.
Overall in 2014-15, the Bison are being outscored, 68.9 to 73.3.
Brooke LeMar Named Summit League Women's Basketball Player of the Week
North Dakota State University senior point guard Brooke LeMar has been named The Summit League Women's Basketball Player of the Week for her performance Dec. 29 - Jan. 4.
LeMar collects her third career Player of the Week award and first of the season after leading the Bison to a pair of league wins. In Sunday's win over reigning regular season champion South Dakota State, the senior guard scored 30 points on 11-of-20 shooting with four assists. She added 22 points with eight assists and three rebounds in Friday's win over Oral Roberts.
For the week, LeMar averaged 26 points, six assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game with a 1.7 assist-to-turnover ratio. She shot 48 percent (19-of-40) from the field and 43 percent (6-of-14) from three-point range.
Breaking the 30-point Threshold
LeMar has scored at least 30 points twice this season and is two 30-point games away from tying Kasey Morlock (1993-96) and Janice Woods (1982-86) for most 30-point games in a career. LeMar has exceeded 20 points in seven games in 2014-15.
Career Milestone
Marena Whittle tallied a new career-high six steals against IUPUI on Jan. 8. Whittle has recorded at least one takeaway in 12 of 15 games this season with six multiple steal games.
Dishing it Out
Brooke LeMar dished out a season-high nine assists in the Bison's win over IUPUI Jan. 8. The Canyon Country, Calif., native has at least four assists in 11 of 15 contests this season.
At the Line Down the Stretch
Brooke LeMar is 14-of-18 (.778) from the free-throw line in the final minute of games this season, including a 7-for-8 (.875) mark in the final minute of Summit League games. As a team, NDSU is 19-of-25 (.760) at the line in the last minute of games this season, four-percent better than its overall season average.
Converting Scoring Opportunities
Taylor Thunstedt leads the Bison in field-goal percentage in Summit League play through three games, going 12-for-17 (.706). Marena Whittle is second, making 15 of 26 shots (.577), and Emily Spier is third, converting six of 11 attempts (.545).
Thunstedt for Three!
Taylor Thunstedt is shooting a team-high 63 percent from three-point range in Summit League competition, going 12-for-17.
Inside Presence
Emily Spier leads the Bison in field-goal percentage through 15 contests, making 31-of-64 attempts for 48 percent. The Buffalo, Minn., native went an impressive 63 percent (5-of-8) from the field in the Bison's opening pair of Summit League games, including a 4-for-6 performance against South Dakota State and a 1-for-2 clip versus Oral Roberts.
Hitting the Offensive Boards
Holly Johnson and Liz Keena have combined for 58 offensive rebounds through 15 games, helping the Bison score an average of 10.3 second-chance points per game. Keena leads the Bison and ranks 11th in The Summit League in offensive rebounds with 2.1 per game while Johnson is second on the team and ranks 13th in the league with 1.9 per game.
Bison in the Record Books
Marena Whittle holds the career record for defensive rebounding average at NDSU with 5.0 boards per game and ranks eighth in overall career rebounding average with 7.2 boards per game. ... Brooke LeMar is seventh in career free-throw percentage, going 183-of-229 from the charity stripe for 80 percent, and holds the career minutes average record, playing an average of 35.9 minutes per game.
From Downtown!
Brooke LeMar leads the Bison from three-point range through 15 games, going 27-for-75 from downtown for 36 percent. Taylor Thunstedt (23-for-66) and Marena Whittle (8-for-23) are tied for second on the team at 35 percent each.
Securing the Perimeter
The Bison are holding opponents to just 30 percent (69-234) shooting from three-point range through 15 games. NDSU is averaging 6.5 made treys per game compared to just 4.6 for its opponents. NDSU has given up just eight treys in its first three Summit League games compared to 20 surrendered by its opponents.
Creating Offense from Defense
In their first three league games, the Bison have scored 45 points off 41 turnovers, an average of 15 points per game. NDSU's opponents only averaged 33 points off 33 Bison miscues for 11 points per game.
On the season, North Dakota State is averaging 17.1 points off turnovers, compared to 16.8 for its adversaries.
Sharing the Basketball
The Bison have tallied double-digit assists in 11 of 15 games this season. NDSU matched its season-high with 19 assists in the win over IUPUI Jan. 8. The Bison also dished out 19 in the victory over Oral Roberts to open league play Jan. 2.
Getting to the Basket
The Bison have scored 81 points off fast break baskets through 15 games, compared to just 48 points from their adversaries. NDSU is averaging 5.4 fast break points per game.
NDSU in the NCAA National Statistics (As of Jan. 9)
Relevant Team Statistics:
Free-Throw Percentage - 62nd out of 343 (.721) ... Three-Point Field Goals Per Game - 81st out of 343 (6.5/game) ... Turnovers Per Game - 88th out of 343 (15.1/game)
Relevant Individual Statistics:
Points Per Game - Brooke LeMar (37th out of 250, 19.2/game) ... Assists Per Game - Brooke LeMar (48th out of 250, 4.9/game) ... Free-Throw Percentage - Brooke LeMar (63rd out of 250, .841)
NDSU in The Summit League Statistics (As of Jan. 9)
Relevant Team Statistics (All Games):
Points - 5th (68.9/game) ... Rebounds - 9th (36.9/game) ... Assists - 3rd (13.7/game) ... Steals - T-3rd (7.7/game) ... Blocks - T-4th (3.4/game) ... Turnovers - 3rd (15.1/game) ... Field-Goal Pct. - 6th (.403) ... Three-Point Field-Goal Pct. - 6th (.331) ... Free-Throw Pct. - 5th (.721)
Relevant Individual Statistics (All Games):
Brooke LeMar - Points: 1st (19.2/game), Assists: 1st (4.9/game), FT Pct.: 4th (.841), Steals: 6th (1.5/game) ... Marena Whittle - Defensive Rebounds: 3rd (5.9/game), Rebounds: 4th (7.4/game), Steals: 4th (1.9/game), Blocks: T-5th (1.1/game) ... Kahla Becken - Steals: T-7th (1.4/game) ... Holly Johnson - Defensive Rebounds: 5th (5.0/game), Rebounds: 6th (6.9/game) ... Emily Spier - Blocks: 10th (0.7/game)
Last Time Out: NDSU Women's Basketball Beats IUPUI 68-63 Thursday, Moves to 3-0 in Summit League Play
Three Bison scored in double figures to help the North Dakota State University women's basketball team (7-8, 3-0 Summit League) beat the IUPUI Jaguars (6-9, 1-1 Summit League) 68-63 on Thursday night, Jan. 8, inside the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse. With the win, NDSU improves to 3-0 in Summit League play for the first time since the 2009-10 season.
Senior guard Brooke LeMar paced all scorers in the game, scoring 17 points on 4-for-13 shooting, and dished out a season-high nine assists to go along with a 7-for-7 performance at the free-throw line. Junior forward Holly Johnson posted 16 points on 7-for-13 shooting, including a 2-for-4 clip from three-point range, and fellow junior forward Marena Whittle scored 14 points and recorded a career-high six steals. Johnson, Whittle and sophomore forward Emily Spier each snagged six rebounds to lead the Bison on the glass.
North Dakota State went 27-for-61 from the field in the game for 44 percent and were 7-for-17 from beyond-the-arc for 41 percent. The Bison excelled at the free-throw line, going 7-for-8 for 88 percent. NDSU recorded 19 assists and 16 turnovers.
Senior center Nevena Markovic led IUPUI in scoring with 14 points while freshman forward Jenna Gunn posted a team-high eight rebounds.
The Jags shot 40 percent from the field in the contest, going 27-for-67, and were just 1-for-10 from three-point range. IUPUI went 8-for-9 at the free-throw line for 89 percent and outrebounded NDSU, 42-32.
Last Time Out Against Denver: Hot Shooting Denver Defeats Bison Women in Regular Season Finale, 87-74
The Denver Pioneers (7-22, 5-9 Summit) shot a blistering 62 percent from the field helping them to an 87-74 win over the NDSU women's basketball team (6-23, 2-12 Summit) Saturday, March 1, 2014 inside Magness Arena in the 2013-14 regular season finale for both teams.
Holly Johnson paced NDSU with 19 points while Marena Whittle tallied 17 and Kahla Becken scored 13. Brooke LeMar posted a double-double for the Bison, netting 12 points while dishing out 11 assists.
Denver was led by Kailey Edwards with a game-high 24 points.
The Bison went 29-for-69 from the field for 42 percent and were 6-for-17 from three-point range for 35 percent. NDSU was 10-of-11 from the free throw line for 91 percent.
Denver went 34-for-55 from the field and were 6-for-14 (43 percent) from beyond the arc.
2014-15 Summit League Preseason Poll (1st-place votes in parenthesis)
South Dakota State (27) - 513 pts.
South Dakota (4) - 420 pts.
IUPUI - 408 pts.
Western Illinois (1) - 358 pts.
Denver - 253 pts.
Fort Wayne - 202 pts.
Oral Roberts - 178 pts.
Omaha - 165 pts.
North Dakota State - 158 pts.
Preseason Honors
Senior guard Brooke LeMar, the reigning Summit League Newcomer of the Year and a second team all-league selection in 2013-14, was named to the preseason Summit League first team after averaging 15.1 points and 5.3 assists per game last season.
Head Coach Maren Walseth
Maren Walseth was named the 10th head women's basketball coach in NDSU history Monday, April 14, 2014.
Walseth joined the Bison after spending seven years as an assistant coach at Big Ten power Penn State University in State College, Pa., where she helped the Lady Lions to three Big Ten championships, four NCAA tournament appearances and two NCAA Sweet 16 appearances.
Prior to becoming an assistant at Penn State, Walseth spent three years as an assistant coach at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.
A native of Bloomington, Minn., Walseth was a two-time All-Big Ten selection and a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree as a forward at Penn State from 1997-2002. She was also a key member of the 2000 Lady Lion team that advanced to the Final Four and claimed the Big Ten conference championship. Walseth also was a member of the 1998 WNIT championship team. She graduated from Penn State in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in communications.
Walseth was drafted by the Sacramento Monarchs in the third-round of the 2001 WNBA draft and spent four years playing professionally. She played for the Washington Mystics of the WNBA in 2002 before spending two years playing professionally in France. Walseth also spent a season with the Women's National Basketball League's (NWBL) Colorado Chill.
Walseth's sister, Annika, played for NDSU during the 2007-08 season.
On the Horizon
North Dakota State travels to Vermillion, S.D., for a 7 p.m. league tilt against South Dakota on Thursday, Jan. 15. The game will be televised live on MidcoSN and ESPN3.
Sunday, Jan. 11 | 1 p.m. MT (2 p.m. CT)
Magness Arena | Denver, Colo.
Live Stats | Free Live Audio | Live Video
Radio: 790 KFGO (Jack Michaels, play-by-play), 1:40 p.m. CT airtime
TV: None
NDSU Notes (PDF) | Denver Notes (PDF) | Summit League Weekly Notes (PDF)
NDSU WBB on Twitter | #SummitWBB on Twitter
NDSU Heads to Denver Sunday for First Summit League Road Test of Season
NDSU women's basketball (7-8, 3-0 Summit League) will travel to Denver on Sunday, Jan. 11, for their first Summit League road contest of the season against the Denver Pioneers (5-12, 2-1 Summit League). Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. MT (2 p.m. CT) inside Magness Arena.
The Series Against Denver
Sunday's game at Denver will be the ninth meeting all-time and third-meeting as Summit League foes for the Bison and Pioneers. NDSU leads the series 6-2 after splitting a two game Summit League set with Denver last season. NDSU beat Denver in Fargo, 85-79, but lost in Denver, 74-87.
About the Pioneers
Denver enters Sunday's game at 5-12 overall and 2-1 in Summit League action after defeating Omaha, 60-53, at home on Thursday.
Through 17 games, Denver is paced in scoring by Paige Bradley with 11.9 points per game (ppg) and Morgan Van Riper-Rose with 10.9 ppg. Alecia Espinoza leads the Pioneers on the boards with 6.2 rebounds per game (rpg).
As a team, Denver is averaging 60.1 ppg, but surrendering 69.1 per game to its opponents. The Pioneers are being outrebounded, on average, 37.7 to 43.5.
Denver is under the leadership of third season head coach Kerry Cremeans (Florida, 1994).
Catching Up With The Bison
The Bison are 7-8 overall and 3-0 in Summit League play after winning their third consecutive game on Thursday at home against IUPUI, 68-63. The 3-0 league start is the best start to league play for North Dakota State since the 2009-10 season when the Bison opened league play 4-0.
Through 15 games, Brooke LeMar leads the Bison and The Summit League and is ranked 37th in the nation in scoring with 19.2 ppg. She also leads the team and the league and ranks 48th in the nation in assists with 4.9 assists per game. LeMar paces the team in free-throw percentage, going 69-for-82 at the line for 84 percent, and three-point percentage, going 27-for-75 from long range for 36 percent. Holly Johnson is second on the team in scoring with 13.1 ppg and rebounding with 6.9 boards per game, while Marena Whittle leads the Bison in rebounding (7.4 rpg), steals (1.9 steals per game) and blocked shots (1.1 blocks per game). Emily Spier leads the Bison in field-goal percentage, making 31-of-64 shot attempts for 48 percent.
Through three Summit League games, NDSU is out-scoring its opponents, 76.0 to 68.3, and dishing out 18 assists compared to just 7.3 for its opponents. The Bison are also forcing an average of 13.7 turnovers though three league contests.
Overall in 2014-15, the Bison are being outscored, 68.9 to 73.3.
Brooke LeMar Named Summit League Women's Basketball Player of the Week
North Dakota State University senior point guard Brooke LeMar has been named The Summit League Women's Basketball Player of the Week for her performance Dec. 29 - Jan. 4.
LeMar collects her third career Player of the Week award and first of the season after leading the Bison to a pair of league wins. In Sunday's win over reigning regular season champion South Dakota State, the senior guard scored 30 points on 11-of-20 shooting with four assists. She added 22 points with eight assists and three rebounds in Friday's win over Oral Roberts.
For the week, LeMar averaged 26 points, six assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game with a 1.7 assist-to-turnover ratio. She shot 48 percent (19-of-40) from the field and 43 percent (6-of-14) from three-point range.
Breaking the 30-point Threshold
LeMar has scored at least 30 points twice this season and is two 30-point games away from tying Kasey Morlock (1993-96) and Janice Woods (1982-86) for most 30-point games in a career. LeMar has exceeded 20 points in seven games in 2014-15.
Career Milestone
Marena Whittle tallied a new career-high six steals against IUPUI on Jan. 8. Whittle has recorded at least one takeaway in 12 of 15 games this season with six multiple steal games.
Dishing it Out
Brooke LeMar dished out a season-high nine assists in the Bison's win over IUPUI Jan. 8. The Canyon Country, Calif., native has at least four assists in 11 of 15 contests this season.
At the Line Down the Stretch
Brooke LeMar is 14-of-18 (.778) from the free-throw line in the final minute of games this season, including a 7-for-8 (.875) mark in the final minute of Summit League games. As a team, NDSU is 19-of-25 (.760) at the line in the last minute of games this season, four-percent better than its overall season average.
Converting Scoring Opportunities
Taylor Thunstedt leads the Bison in field-goal percentage in Summit League play through three games, going 12-for-17 (.706). Marena Whittle is second, making 15 of 26 shots (.577), and Emily Spier is third, converting six of 11 attempts (.545).
Thunstedt for Three!
Taylor Thunstedt is shooting a team-high 63 percent from three-point range in Summit League competition, going 12-for-17.
Inside Presence
Emily Spier leads the Bison in field-goal percentage through 15 contests, making 31-of-64 attempts for 48 percent. The Buffalo, Minn., native went an impressive 63 percent (5-of-8) from the field in the Bison's opening pair of Summit League games, including a 4-for-6 performance against South Dakota State and a 1-for-2 clip versus Oral Roberts.
Hitting the Offensive Boards
Holly Johnson and Liz Keena have combined for 58 offensive rebounds through 15 games, helping the Bison score an average of 10.3 second-chance points per game. Keena leads the Bison and ranks 11th in The Summit League in offensive rebounds with 2.1 per game while Johnson is second on the team and ranks 13th in the league with 1.9 per game.
Bison in the Record Books
Marena Whittle holds the career record for defensive rebounding average at NDSU with 5.0 boards per game and ranks eighth in overall career rebounding average with 7.2 boards per game. ... Brooke LeMar is seventh in career free-throw percentage, going 183-of-229 from the charity stripe for 80 percent, and holds the career minutes average record, playing an average of 35.9 minutes per game.
From Downtown!
Brooke LeMar leads the Bison from three-point range through 15 games, going 27-for-75 from downtown for 36 percent. Taylor Thunstedt (23-for-66) and Marena Whittle (8-for-23) are tied for second on the team at 35 percent each.
Securing the Perimeter
The Bison are holding opponents to just 30 percent (69-234) shooting from three-point range through 15 games. NDSU is averaging 6.5 made treys per game compared to just 4.6 for its opponents. NDSU has given up just eight treys in its first three Summit League games compared to 20 surrendered by its opponents.
Creating Offense from Defense
In their first three league games, the Bison have scored 45 points off 41 turnovers, an average of 15 points per game. NDSU's opponents only averaged 33 points off 33 Bison miscues for 11 points per game.
On the season, North Dakota State is averaging 17.1 points off turnovers, compared to 16.8 for its adversaries.
Sharing the Basketball
The Bison have tallied double-digit assists in 11 of 15 games this season. NDSU matched its season-high with 19 assists in the win over IUPUI Jan. 8. The Bison also dished out 19 in the victory over Oral Roberts to open league play Jan. 2.
Getting to the Basket
The Bison have scored 81 points off fast break baskets through 15 games, compared to just 48 points from their adversaries. NDSU is averaging 5.4 fast break points per game.
NDSU in the NCAA National Statistics (As of Jan. 9)
Relevant Team Statistics:
Free-Throw Percentage - 62nd out of 343 (.721) ... Three-Point Field Goals Per Game - 81st out of 343 (6.5/game) ... Turnovers Per Game - 88th out of 343 (15.1/game)
Relevant Individual Statistics:
Points Per Game - Brooke LeMar (37th out of 250, 19.2/game) ... Assists Per Game - Brooke LeMar (48th out of 250, 4.9/game) ... Free-Throw Percentage - Brooke LeMar (63rd out of 250, .841)
NDSU in The Summit League Statistics (As of Jan. 9)
Relevant Team Statistics (All Games):
Points - 5th (68.9/game) ... Rebounds - 9th (36.9/game) ... Assists - 3rd (13.7/game) ... Steals - T-3rd (7.7/game) ... Blocks - T-4th (3.4/game) ... Turnovers - 3rd (15.1/game) ... Field-Goal Pct. - 6th (.403) ... Three-Point Field-Goal Pct. - 6th (.331) ... Free-Throw Pct. - 5th (.721)
Relevant Individual Statistics (All Games):
Brooke LeMar - Points: 1st (19.2/game), Assists: 1st (4.9/game), FT Pct.: 4th (.841), Steals: 6th (1.5/game) ... Marena Whittle - Defensive Rebounds: 3rd (5.9/game), Rebounds: 4th (7.4/game), Steals: 4th (1.9/game), Blocks: T-5th (1.1/game) ... Kahla Becken - Steals: T-7th (1.4/game) ... Holly Johnson - Defensive Rebounds: 5th (5.0/game), Rebounds: 6th (6.9/game) ... Emily Spier - Blocks: 10th (0.7/game)
Last Time Out: NDSU Women's Basketball Beats IUPUI 68-63 Thursday, Moves to 3-0 in Summit League Play
Three Bison scored in double figures to help the North Dakota State University women's basketball team (7-8, 3-0 Summit League) beat the IUPUI Jaguars (6-9, 1-1 Summit League) 68-63 on Thursday night, Jan. 8, inside the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse. With the win, NDSU improves to 3-0 in Summit League play for the first time since the 2009-10 season.
Senior guard Brooke LeMar paced all scorers in the game, scoring 17 points on 4-for-13 shooting, and dished out a season-high nine assists to go along with a 7-for-7 performance at the free-throw line. Junior forward Holly Johnson posted 16 points on 7-for-13 shooting, including a 2-for-4 clip from three-point range, and fellow junior forward Marena Whittle scored 14 points and recorded a career-high six steals. Johnson, Whittle and sophomore forward Emily Spier each snagged six rebounds to lead the Bison on the glass.
North Dakota State went 27-for-61 from the field in the game for 44 percent and were 7-for-17 from beyond-the-arc for 41 percent. The Bison excelled at the free-throw line, going 7-for-8 for 88 percent. NDSU recorded 19 assists and 16 turnovers.
Senior center Nevena Markovic led IUPUI in scoring with 14 points while freshman forward Jenna Gunn posted a team-high eight rebounds.
The Jags shot 40 percent from the field in the contest, going 27-for-67, and were just 1-for-10 from three-point range. IUPUI went 8-for-9 at the free-throw line for 89 percent and outrebounded NDSU, 42-32.
Last Time Out Against Denver: Hot Shooting Denver Defeats Bison Women in Regular Season Finale, 87-74
The Denver Pioneers (7-22, 5-9 Summit) shot a blistering 62 percent from the field helping them to an 87-74 win over the NDSU women's basketball team (6-23, 2-12 Summit) Saturday, March 1, 2014 inside Magness Arena in the 2013-14 regular season finale for both teams.
Holly Johnson paced NDSU with 19 points while Marena Whittle tallied 17 and Kahla Becken scored 13. Brooke LeMar posted a double-double for the Bison, netting 12 points while dishing out 11 assists.
Denver was led by Kailey Edwards with a game-high 24 points.
The Bison went 29-for-69 from the field for 42 percent and were 6-for-17 from three-point range for 35 percent. NDSU was 10-of-11 from the free throw line for 91 percent.
Denver went 34-for-55 from the field and were 6-for-14 (43 percent) from beyond the arc.
2014-15 Summit League Preseason Poll (1st-place votes in parenthesis)
South Dakota State (27) - 513 pts.
South Dakota (4) - 420 pts.
IUPUI - 408 pts.
Western Illinois (1) - 358 pts.
Denver - 253 pts.
Fort Wayne - 202 pts.
Oral Roberts - 178 pts.
Omaha - 165 pts.
North Dakota State - 158 pts.
Preseason Honors
Senior guard Brooke LeMar, the reigning Summit League Newcomer of the Year and a second team all-league selection in 2013-14, was named to the preseason Summit League first team after averaging 15.1 points and 5.3 assists per game last season.
Head Coach Maren Walseth
Maren Walseth was named the 10th head women's basketball coach in NDSU history Monday, April 14, 2014.
Walseth joined the Bison after spending seven years as an assistant coach at Big Ten power Penn State University in State College, Pa., where she helped the Lady Lions to three Big Ten championships, four NCAA tournament appearances and two NCAA Sweet 16 appearances.
Prior to becoming an assistant at Penn State, Walseth spent three years as an assistant coach at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.
A native of Bloomington, Minn., Walseth was a two-time All-Big Ten selection and a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree as a forward at Penn State from 1997-2002. She was also a key member of the 2000 Lady Lion team that advanced to the Final Four and claimed the Big Ten conference championship. Walseth also was a member of the 1998 WNIT championship team. She graduated from Penn State in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in communications.
Walseth was drafted by the Sacramento Monarchs in the third-round of the 2001 WNBA draft and spent four years playing professionally. She played for the Washington Mystics of the WNBA in 2002 before spending two years playing professionally in France. Walseth also spent a season with the Women's National Basketball League's (NWBL) Colorado Chill.
Walseth's sister, Annika, played for NDSU during the 2007-08 season.
On the Horizon
North Dakota State travels to Vermillion, S.D., for a 7 p.m. league tilt against South Dakota on Thursday, Jan. 15. The game will be televised live on MidcoSN and ESPN3.
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