Friday, November 27
San Diego, Calif.
8:30 p.m.
North Dakota State
at
San Diego State
Photo by: Richard Svaleson
NDSU Takes On San Diego State in Opening Game of San Diego State Thanksgiving Classic
11/25/2015 2:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball
NDSU Women's Basketball on Twitter
Full Game Notes (PDF)
at San Diego State (Nov. 27, 6:30 p.m. PT/8:30 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Audio (Free)
San Diego State University Thanksgiving Classic
Radio - 790 KFGO AM (Jack Michaels, play-by-play)
NDSU Takes on San Diego State in Opening Game of San Diego State Thanksgiving Classic Friday
The NDSU women's basketball team will go on the road for the first time in 2015-16 when it travels to San Diego, Calif., for two games in the San Diego State University Thanksgiving Classic. The Bison will face the host San Diego State Aztecs in their first game on Friday, Nov. 27, at 6:30 p.m. PT (8:30 p.m. CT) before taking on Delaware on Sunday, Nov. 29, at noon PT (2 p.m. CT).
Series History:
Friday's game at San Diego State will mark the inaugural meeting in the all-time series between the Bison and Aztecs.
Scouting San Diego State
The San Diego State University Aztecs enter Friday's contest with the Bison at 0-4 overall after falling at the University of Washington on Tuesday, 80-51. Through four games, McKynzie Fort leads the Aztecs offensively with 14.5 points per game, while Deidra Smith is averaging a team-best 5.3 rebounds per game. The Aztecs are averaging just 56.8 points per game and giving up 76 per game to their adversaries. San Diego State is being outrebounded, on average, 35.8 to 32.5. SDSU was picked to finish sixth out of 11 teams in the Mountain West preseason poll. The Aztecs are under the leadership of third season head coach Stacie Terry.
Catching Up with the #NDSUBison
The North Dakota State Bison are 2-2 overall entering Friday's game at San Diego State after falling to then Mid-Major No. 23 Maine on Sunday, Nov. 22, at the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse, 82-51. Through four games, Marena Whittle leads NDSU offensively with 22 points and three steals per game, while Taylor Thunstedt is averaging 15.8 points per game and shooting a team-best 50 percent from three-point range, going 14-for-28. Brianna Jones is averaging 11 points and a team and Summit League-best 10.5 rebounds per game, and Emily Spier is averaging 10.8 points per game. As a team, the Bison are averaging 73.2 points per game but allowing 76.5 per game from their opponents. NDSU is outrebounding its adversaries, on average, 35.2 to 34.
Last Time Out: NDSU Falls to Mid-Major No. 23 Maine Sunday, 82-51
The North Dakota State University women's basketball team fell to Mid-Major No. 23-ranked University of Maine, 82-51, on Sunday, Nov. 22, inside the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.
Junior Brianna Jones paced the Bison (2-2 overall) with 14 points and six rebounds, while freshman Kennedy Childers tallied a season and career-high 13 points on 6-for-8 shooting from the field.
For the game, the Bison shot 49 percent from the field, going 21-for-43, but just 22 percent from three-point range, making only two of nine attempts.
Sophie Weckstrom led three Maine players in double figures with a game-high 17 points on 7-for-8 shooting from the field, including a 3-for-4 performance from beyond-the-arc. Sigi Koizar pulled down six rebounds to lead the Black Bears on the boards.
Maine shot 67 percent from the field in the contest, going 34-for-51, and 60 percent from long range, converting 9-of-15 attempts.
The Black Bears outrebounded the Bison, 21-20, and turned 17 NDSU turnovers into 27 points.
Whittle Crashing the Boards
Marena Whittle holds the career record for defensive rebounding average at NDSU through four games with 5.1 boards per game and ranks eighth in overall career rebounding average with 7.2 per game.
Jones Controlling the Glass
Brianna Jones led the Bison in rebounding in three of the first four games this season. The Indianapolis native snagged 19 boards in the season opener against New Mexico State, the most rebounds in a single game since Marena Whittle pulled down 20 boards at Omaha last season, to go along with nine against College of St. Mary, eight against Valley City State and six against Maine. Jones leads the Bison and The Summit League through four games with 10.5 rebounds per game.
Double-Double Performances
Marena Whittle posted the first double-double of the season for North Dakota State after scoring a game-high 32 points and snagging 10 rebounds in NDSU's win over Valley City State. It was the 11th double-double of her career.
Success Beyond-the-Arc
Through four games, the Bison are shooting 42 percent from three-point range, going 26-for-62. Taylor Thunstedt leads NDSU from beyond-the-arc so far this season, making 14 of 28 attempts for 50 percent, while Marena Whittle is shooting 42 percent from long range, going 5-for-12.
Defending the Perimeter
The Bison are holding opponents to 39 percent shooting from three-point range through four games.
Getting to the Line
North Dakota State has reached the free-throw line 79 times this season. The Bison rank second in the league in free-throw shooting, going 55 of 79 from the charity stripe for 70 percent.
Thunstedt Ascending the NDSU Career Record Books
Taylor Thunstedt already ranks second in career three-point field goal percentage at North Dakota State as a sophomore, going 69 of 167 for 41.3 percent.
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 (Buffalo, N.D./Maple Valley HS), Tyrah Spencer (Oakdale, Minn./Bloomington Kennedy HS), Anna Goodhope (Sioux Falls, S.D./Sioux Falls Washington HS), Autumn Ogden (Marshall, Wis./Monona Grove HS), Liz Bulver (Belton, Mo./Belton HS), Sarah Jacobson (Fargo, N.D./Shanley HS) and Reilly Jacobson (Waukee, Iowa/Waukee HS) 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.
NDSU in The Summit League Statistics (as of Nov. 25)
Team:
Points - 4th (73.3/game), Rebounds - 6th (35.3/game), Assists - 6th (13.5/game), Steals - 7th (7.5/game), Blocks - 7th (2.5/game), Field-Goal Percentage - 3rd (.447), Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage - 2nd (.419), Free-Throw Percentage - 2nd (.696), Turnovers - 6th (16.3/game)
Individual:
Marena Whittle - Points: 2nd (22.0/game), Free-Throw Percentage: 5th (.813), Rebounds: 2nd (8.3/game), Turnovers: 4th (3.3/game), Steals: 2nd (3.0/game); Taylor Thunstedt - Points: 7th (15.8/game), Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: T-3rd (.500), Assists: T-4th (4.0/game), Turnovers: T-5th (3.3/game); Brianna Jones - Rebounds: 1st (10.5/game), Turnovers: T-5th (3.3/game); Emily Spier - Blocks: T-3rd (1.0/game); Brooke Yaggie - Free-Throw Percentage: 6th (.800)
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.
Full Game Notes (PDF)
at San Diego State (Nov. 27, 6:30 p.m. PT/8:30 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Audio (Free)
San Diego State University Thanksgiving Classic
Radio - 790 KFGO AM (Jack Michaels, play-by-play)
NDSU Takes on San Diego State in Opening Game of San Diego State Thanksgiving Classic Friday
The NDSU women's basketball team will go on the road for the first time in 2015-16 when it travels to San Diego, Calif., for two games in the San Diego State University Thanksgiving Classic. The Bison will face the host San Diego State Aztecs in their first game on Friday, Nov. 27, at 6:30 p.m. PT (8:30 p.m. CT) before taking on Delaware on Sunday, Nov. 29, at noon PT (2 p.m. CT).
Series History:
Friday's game at San Diego State will mark the inaugural meeting in the all-time series between the Bison and Aztecs.
Scouting San Diego State
The San Diego State University Aztecs enter Friday's contest with the Bison at 0-4 overall after falling at the University of Washington on Tuesday, 80-51. Through four games, McKynzie Fort leads the Aztecs offensively with 14.5 points per game, while Deidra Smith is averaging a team-best 5.3 rebounds per game. The Aztecs are averaging just 56.8 points per game and giving up 76 per game to their adversaries. San Diego State is being outrebounded, on average, 35.8 to 32.5. SDSU was picked to finish sixth out of 11 teams in the Mountain West preseason poll. The Aztecs are under the leadership of third season head coach Stacie Terry.
Catching Up with the #NDSUBison
The North Dakota State Bison are 2-2 overall entering Friday's game at San Diego State after falling to then Mid-Major No. 23 Maine on Sunday, Nov. 22, at the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse, 82-51. Through four games, Marena Whittle leads NDSU offensively with 22 points and three steals per game, while Taylor Thunstedt is averaging 15.8 points per game and shooting a team-best 50 percent from three-point range, going 14-for-28. Brianna Jones is averaging 11 points and a team and Summit League-best 10.5 rebounds per game, and Emily Spier is averaging 10.8 points per game. As a team, the Bison are averaging 73.2 points per game but allowing 76.5 per game from their opponents. NDSU is outrebounding its adversaries, on average, 35.2 to 34.
Last Time Out: NDSU Falls to Mid-Major No. 23 Maine Sunday, 82-51
The North Dakota State University women's basketball team fell to Mid-Major No. 23-ranked University of Maine, 82-51, on Sunday, Nov. 22, inside the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.
Junior Brianna Jones paced the Bison (2-2 overall) with 14 points and six rebounds, while freshman Kennedy Childers tallied a season and career-high 13 points on 6-for-8 shooting from the field.
For the game, the Bison shot 49 percent from the field, going 21-for-43, but just 22 percent from three-point range, making only two of nine attempts.
Sophie Weckstrom led three Maine players in double figures with a game-high 17 points on 7-for-8 shooting from the field, including a 3-for-4 performance from beyond-the-arc. Sigi Koizar pulled down six rebounds to lead the Black Bears on the boards.
Maine shot 67 percent from the field in the contest, going 34-for-51, and 60 percent from long range, converting 9-of-15 attempts.
The Black Bears outrebounded the Bison, 21-20, and turned 17 NDSU turnovers into 27 points.
Whittle Crashing the Boards
Marena Whittle holds the career record for defensive rebounding average at NDSU through four games with 5.1 boards per game and ranks eighth in overall career rebounding average with 7.2 per game.
Jones Controlling the Glass
Brianna Jones led the Bison in rebounding in three of the first four games this season. The Indianapolis native snagged 19 boards in the season opener against New Mexico State, the most rebounds in a single game since Marena Whittle pulled down 20 boards at Omaha last season, to go along with nine against College of St. Mary, eight against Valley City State and six against Maine. Jones leads the Bison and The Summit League through four games with 10.5 rebounds per game.
Double-Double Performances
Marena Whittle posted the first double-double of the season for North Dakota State after scoring a game-high 32 points and snagging 10 rebounds in NDSU's win over Valley City State. It was the 11th double-double of her career.
Success Beyond-the-Arc
Through four games, the Bison are shooting 42 percent from three-point range, going 26-for-62. Taylor Thunstedt leads NDSU from beyond-the-arc so far this season, making 14 of 28 attempts for 50 percent, while Marena Whittle is shooting 42 percent from long range, going 5-for-12.
Defending the Perimeter
The Bison are holding opponents to 39 percent shooting from three-point range through four games.
Getting to the Line
North Dakota State has reached the free-throw line 79 times this season. The Bison rank second in the league in free-throw shooting, going 55 of 79 from the charity stripe for 70 percent.
Thunstedt Ascending the NDSU Career Record Books
Taylor Thunstedt already ranks second in career three-point field goal percentage at North Dakota State as a sophomore, going 69 of 167 for 41.3 percent.
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 (Buffalo, N.D./Maple Valley HS), Tyrah Spencer (Oakdale, Minn./Bloomington Kennedy HS), Anna Goodhope (Sioux Falls, S.D./Sioux Falls Washington HS), Autumn Ogden (Marshall, Wis./Monona Grove HS), Liz Bulver (Belton, Mo./Belton HS), Sarah Jacobson (Fargo, N.D./Shanley HS) and Reilly Jacobson (Waukee, Iowa/Waukee HS) 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.
NDSU in The Summit League Statistics (as of Nov. 25)
Team:
Points - 4th (73.3/game), Rebounds - 6th (35.3/game), Assists - 6th (13.5/game), Steals - 7th (7.5/game), Blocks - 7th (2.5/game), Field-Goal Percentage - 3rd (.447), Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage - 2nd (.419), Free-Throw Percentage - 2nd (.696), Turnovers - 6th (16.3/game)
Individual:
Marena Whittle - Points: 2nd (22.0/game), Free-Throw Percentage: 5th (.813), Rebounds: 2nd (8.3/game), Turnovers: 4th (3.3/game), Steals: 2nd (3.0/game); Taylor Thunstedt - Points: 7th (15.8/game), Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: T-3rd (.500), Assists: T-4th (4.0/game), Turnovers: T-5th (3.3/game); Brianna Jones - Rebounds: 1st (10.5/game), Turnovers: T-5th (3.3/game); Emily Spier - Blocks: T-3rd (1.0/game); Brooke Yaggie - Free-Throw Percentage: 6th (.800)
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.
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