Bison Women Host New Mexico State, College of St. Mary to Open Season

Friday, November 13

Fargo, N.D.

7 p.m.

North Dakota State

New Mexico State

Photo by: Richard Svaleson

Bison Women Host New Mexico State, College of St. Mary to Open Season

11/11/2015 8:04:00 PM | Women's Basketball

NDSU Women's Basketball on Twitter
Full Game Notes (PDF) | Summit League WBB Release (PDF)
New Mexico State (Nov. 13, 7 p.m.): Live Stats | Live Audio (Free) | Live Video (PPV)
Radio - 104.7 FM (Todd Domres, play-by-play)
College of St. Mary (Nov. 15, 2 p.m.): Live Stats | Live Audio (Free) | Live Video (PPV)
Radio - Mix 101.9 FM (Jack Michaels, play-by-play)

@NDSUwbb Hosts New Mexico State, College of St. Mary to Open 2015-16 Regular Season
The North Dakota State University women's basketball team will host New Mexico State and College of St. Mary (Neb.) on Friday, Nov. 13, and Sunday, Nov. 15, inside the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse to tip-off the 2015-16 regular season.

NDSU Debuting "Player Card" Promotion at this Weekend's Women's Basketball Games
At the conclusion of each home women's basketball game this season, a limited edition autographed player card of an NDSU women's basketball player will be given away. Fourteen different cards will be released, including each individual player (10), one coaching staff, one Thundar, one senior edition, and one team card. Fourteen cards for 14 home games!

Series History:

New Mexico State - Friday's regular season opener against the New Mexico State Aggies will be the fourth meeting in the all-time series. NDSU trails the Aggies, 1-2, in the series after dropping a 79-59 decision last season in Las Cruces, N.M.
College of St. Mary - Sunday's game against the College of St. Mary Flames will be the first-ever meeting between the two women's basketball programs.

Scouting the Opponents:
New Mexico State
        The Aggies are coming off a 2014-15 season that saw them post a 22-8 overall record and a 13-1 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) mark. New Mexico State captured the WAC regular season and tournament championships and advanced to the NCAA tournament where it fell to No. 4/3 Maryland in the first round, 75-57.
        The Aggies were picked to win the WAC in the conference's 2015-16 preseason media and coaches' polls and are receiving votes in the CollegeInsider.com Women's Mid-Major Top 25 Preseason Poll.
        New Mexico State junior forward Brianna Freeman was tabbed the WAC Preseason Player of the Year in both polls. Freeman, the reigning WAC Player of the Year, averaged 14.9 points and 5.2 rebounds last season. Joining Freeman on the WAC preseason first-team list were seniors Sasha Weber and Shanice Davis in the coaches' poll. In the media poll, Freeman and Weber earned first-team honors while Davis received second-team accolades.
        The Aggies are under the direction of fifth season head coach Mark Trakh.

College of St. Mary
        The College of St. Mary Flames enter the week at 1-1 overall after falling to Haskell Indian Nations University on Nov. 6, 69-65. The Flames will take on Peru State College (Neb.) and Sterling College before facing NDSU Sunday afternoon.
        Through two games, CSM is averaging 80 points per game while holding its opponents to 64 per game. The Flames are shooting 45 percent from the field, making 58 of 130 attempts, and 35 percent from three-point range, going 14-for-40. College of St. Mary is 30-of-38 from the free-throw line for 79 percent.
        Through two contests, Justice Ross leads the team in scoring with 18.5 points per game, while Deaundra Young is averaging 17.5 points and a team-high 10 rebounds per game.
        The Flames are under the leadership of first season head coach Jesse Flanagan.

#NDSUBison Notes:

The Bison are coming off a 76-73 exhibition loss against Minnesota-Crookston on Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse. Marena Whittle paced the Bison with a game-high 23 points while Brianna Jones tallied a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds.
The North Dakota State University women's basketball team begins its second season under head coach Maren Walseth with three returning starters from last season's team in seniors Holly Johnson and Marena Whittle, and sophomore Taylor Thunstedt.
NDSU also returns juniors Emily Spier and Hannah Breske, redshirt junior Brittany Wiebe, and sophomore Brooke Yaggie.
North Dakota State welcomes three newcomers to the team for 2015-16 in freshmen Megan Gamble and Kennedy Childers, and junior Brianna Jones.
NDSU was picked to finish sixth out of nine teams in The Summit League Preseason Poll.
Holly Johnson was named to the Preseason All-Summit League Second Team.

NDSU in Regular Season Openers
        The Bison are 31-19 in regular season openers entering Friday's game against New Mexico State.

Crashing the Boards
        Marena Whittle holds the career record for defensive rebounding average at NDSU entering the 2015-16 season with 5.1 boards per game and ranks eighth in overall career rebounding average with 7.2 per game.

NDSU Women's Hoops Inks Seven High School Standouts on National Signing Day
        North Dakota State University women's basketball head coach Maren Walseth announced on Wednesday, Nov. 11, that high school seniors Rylee Nudell, Tyrah Spencer, Anna Goodhope, Autumn Ogden, Liz Bulver, Sarah Jacobson and Reilly Jacobson have signed National Letters of Intent to continue their education and play women's basketball for North Dakota State beginning in the fall of 2016.
        The 2016 class brings a tremendous amount of prep success to the Bison. Seven total championships and multiple runner-ups highlight the class and each player's ability to elevate their team's success.
        The 2016 class of Bison will be the first recruiting class to play in the newly renovated Sanford Health Athletic Complex beginning in the fall.

Complete signee information is listed below.

Rylee Nudell, F, 5-10
Buffalo, N.D. (Maple Valley HS)
Plays for head coach Jeff Miller at Maple Valley High School … Averaged 27.5 points and 10.8 rebounds as a junior … Named first team North Dakota Class B All-State in 2012-13 and 2014-15 … Named Barnes County All-Tournament team unanimous selection four consecutive years … Four-time first team all-conference honoree … Enters her senior year with 2,611 points, 1,465 rebounds and 486 steals … Played for ND Pro during her AAU career.

Tyrah Spencer, G, 5-9
Oakdale, Minn. (Bloomington Kennedy HS)
Plays for head coach Quentin Johnson at Bloomington Kennedy High School … Averaged 13.2 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals per game … Named Metro West All-Conference in 2015 … Class AAAA state runner-up twice … Played for MN Stars-Martin during the AAU season, which has been ranked nationally in the top-10 since 2013 … Earned AAU championships at Boo Williams, Nike Summer Showcase, Adidas Nationals and AAU Super Showcase.

Anna Goodhope, F, 5-11
Sioux Falls, S.D. (Sioux Falls Washington HS)
Has won back-to-back South Dakota state titles playing for head coach Jamie Parish at Sioux Falls Washington High School … As a junior, averaged 17 points, 4.7 boards and 3.7 steals per game … Named South Dakota Class AA State Tournament Second Team … Named All-Metro Conference Team … Named Sioux Falls Sports Club All-City Team … Played for the South Dakota Schoolers during her AAU career.

Autumn Ogden, F, 5-11
Marshall, Wis. (Monona Grove HS)
Plays for head coach Eric Nelson at Monona Grove High School … Led the Badger-South Conference in scoring as a junior with 14.8 points per game … Also averaged a conference-best 6.4 rebounds while notching four double-doubles last season, including three straight … Named first team all-conference for two consecutive years and second team all-area … Named Wisconsin All-State Honorable Mention … Led the Badger-South Conference in rebounding her freshman, sophomore and junior seasons … Enters her senior year with 777 career points … In consecutive years, led Monona Grove to the WIAA Division II sectional semifinals and sectional finals as a freshman … Played for Wisconsin Lakers and Wisconsin Academic during her AAU career.

Liz Bulver, F, 6-2
Belton, Mo. (Belton HS)
Plays for Brad Batchelder at Belton High School … Won two Minnesota Class AAAA state titles with Hopkins High School (Minn.) in 2011-12 and 2014-15 … As a junior, averaged five points, 4.7 rebounds, two steals and one block per game … As a sophomore, averaged 8.4 points, 6.9 boards, 2.1 steals and one block per game … Played for MN Stars-Martin during the AAU season, who has been ranked nationally in the top-10 since 2013 … Earned AAU titles at Boo Williams, Nike Summer Showcase, Adidas Nationals and AAU Super Showcase.

Sarah Jacobson, G, 5-7
Fargo, N.D. (Shanley HS)
Carries a 91-11 record playing for Fargo Shanley high school head coach Tim Jacobson … Current 43-game win streak following an undefeated 2014-15 season … Back-to-back North Dakota Class A state titles in 2013-14 and 2014-15 … Named 2014 North Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year … Three-time EDC All-Conference honoree … Three-time North Dakota All-State First Team selection … Three-time selection to the North Dakota State A Girls Basketball All-Tournament team … North Dakota State A Girls Basketball Tournament MVP in 2013-14 and 2014-15 … Entering her senior season, she has 1,853 points, 506 assists, 401 rebounds and 246 steals … Played for the Minnesota Fury during her AAU career … Her older brother, A.J. Jacobson, is a sophomore on the NDSU men's basketball team.

Reilly Jacobson, F, 6-1
Waukee, Iowa (Waukee HS)
Won a state championship in 2014-15 for Waukee High School and head coach Chris Guess … As a junior, led her team to a 24-2 overall record … Named Iowa 5A First Team All-State … Selected to the Iowa 5A All-State Tournament team … Named American Family Insurance ALL-USA Iowa Elite Second Team … As a junior, averaged a double-double with 16.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per game to go along with 5.1 assists and 2.2 steals per game … Played for Iowa Kingdom Hoops during her AAU career.

Bison Women Sixth in Summit League Preseason Poll; Johnson Named Preseason All-League
        The North Dakota State University women's basketball team was picked to finish sixth in The Summit League preseason poll unveiled Wednesday night, Oct. 14, by the league office on "Inside The Summit League."
        The Bison tallied 250 points in the poll.
        Senior forward Holly Johnson, an honorable mention All-Summit League selection last season, was named to the preseason all-league second team after averaging 12.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in 2014-15. The Minot, N.D., native enters 2015-16 ranked fourth in NDSU career defensive rebounding average with 3.9 boards per game and tied for ninth in career defensive rebounds with 336.
        South Dakota State was selected to capture the 2015-16 Summit League women's basketball championship after winning The Summit League tournament last season. The Jackrabbits collected 17 first-place votes and 508 points in a vote of the league's head coaches, SIDs and select media. South Dakota's Nicole Seekamp was tabbed as the preseason Player of the Year.
        South Dakota, last season's regular season champion, earned 15 first-place votes and 502 points to place second in the poll. IUPUI was picked third with 379 points followed by Oral Roberts in fourth with one first-place vote and 317 points. Western Illinois came in fifth followed by the Bison in sixth and Omaha in seventh. Denver and Fort Wayne rounded out the poll in eighth and ninth.

Five NDSU Women's Basketball Games to be Televised During 2015-16 Regular Season
        The North Dakota State women's basketball team will be featured on television five times during the 2015-16 regular season, NDSU athletics and The Summit League announced Friday, Nov. 6.
        NDSU's Summit League contest against South Dakota State at Scheels Arena on Jan. 3 will be televised regionally on MeTV. The television network is available via over-the-air channels in Bismarck (5.2), Minot (10.2), Williston (8.2) and Dickinson (7.2) as well as through additional providers.
        The Bison's Feb. 20 league contest at Scheels Arena against Denver will air live in high definition on NBC North Dakota and ESPN3, and NDSU's league game at Western Illinois Feb. 25 will be televised on WIUTV and ESPN3.
        North Dakota State will also have a pair of Summit League contests carried on Midco Sports Network and ESPN3 through the league's television package. The game on Jan. 30 at South Dakota and the contest on Feb. 6 at South Dakota State will be broadcast.

Head Coach Maren Walseth
     Maren Walseth is in her second season as the head coach of the North Dakota State University women's basketball team.
     In her inaugural season at NDSU, she helped guide the Bison to an 11-17 overall record and a 7-9 Summit League mark. North Dakota State finished sixth in The Summit League, the highest finish for NDSU women's basketball since the 2011-12 season.
     Walseth helped coach the Bison to several milestone victories during the 2014-15 season. The first occurred on Jan. 2, when NDSU claimed a 77-64 triumph over Oral Roberts at Scheels Arena, marking the first win for the Bison over the Golden Eagles since the 2009-10 season. The win also snapped a five-game losing skid to ORU. Just two days later on Jan. 4, the Bison stunned the then defending Summit League regular season champion South Dakota State Jackrabbits, defeating SDSU in front of 1,782 spectators at Scheels Arena, 83-78. The victory was the first over the Jacks since 2010-11 and the first at home since 2004-05.
     North Dakota State also captured the Florida Atlantic Thanksgiving Tournament title with wins over Northeastern (Mass.) and NJIT Nov. 28-29 in Boca Raton, Fla.
     Under Walseth's leadership, three student-athletes were named All-Summit League, the most since NDSU joined the league in 2007. Senior point guard Brooke LeMar was selected first team all-league, junior Holly Johnson was named honorable mention all-league, and freshman Taylor Thunstedt was voted to the all-newcomer team.
     Walseth joined the Bison in April, 2014, 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. While at Navy, she assisted with recruiting as well as on-court player development and scouting, and was also the academic liaison for the Midshipmen.
     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.