Saturday, January 30
Vermillion, S.D.
4:30 p.m.
North Dakota State
at
South Dakota
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's BasketballPhoto by: Richard Svaleson
Bison Women Tip-Off Second Half of League Schedule at South Dakota Saturday
1/28/2016 5:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball
NDSU Women's Basketball on Twitter
Full Game Notes (PDF)
North Dakota State at South Dakota | Jan. 30 | 4:30 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Audio (Free) | Live Video (Free)
Radio - 790 KFGO (Jack Michaels, play-by-play)
TV - MidcoSN/ESPN3/WatchESPN (Jay Elsen, play-by-play; Brad Newitt, color; Carla Metts, sideline reporter)
Bison Women Tip-Off Second Half of League Schedule at South Dakota Saturday
The North Dakota State University women's basketball team begins the second half of Summit League play on Saturday, Jan. 30, at Mid-Major No. 19 ranked South Dakota. Tip-off inside the DakotaDome in Vermillion is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
Series History
Saturday's contest at South Dakota will mark the 66th meeting in the all-time series that dates back to 1977 ... NDSU leads the series, 41-24, but has lost the last six meetings with USD, including a heartbreaking 96-94 double overtime setback to the Coyotes earlier this season.
About South Dakota
South Dakota enters Saturday's contest at 16-5 overall and 7-1 in Summit League competition after winning at Western Illinois on Wednesday, 102-77 ... USD has won 16 of its last 18 games, including its last six contests ... The Yotes are ranked 19th in the latest CollegeInsider.com Women's Mid-Major Top 25 Poll ... Through 21 games, Summit League Preseason Player of the Year Nicole Seekamp leads the Coyotes with 16.8 points per game ... Seekamp has dished out a team and league-high 6.6 assists per game to go along with a team and league-best 3.2 steals per game ... Tia Hemiller (11.4 points per game) and Caitlin Duffy (10.2 points per game) are also averaging in double figures for the Yotes ... Hemiller leads South Dakota on the boards with 5.6 rebounds per game ... USD leads The Summit League in points per game (80.1), rebounds per game (41.3), assists per game (18.0), field-goal percentage (45.1 percent) and three-point field-goal percentage (37.1 percent) ... The Coyotes are holding their opponents to 68.7 points and a league-low 32 rebounds per game ... South Dakota is under the direction of fourth season head coach Amy Williams.
Catching Up with the Bison
The Bison come into Saturday with an overall record of 6-15 and are 1-7 in Summit League play after defeating IPFW on Jan. 23, 94-85 ... The Jan. 23 victory snapped a seven game losing streak for North Dakota State ... Through 21 games, Marena Whittle leads the Bison and ranks second in The Summit League in scoring with 17.9 points per game ... Whittle leads the team and The Summit League on the boards with 10.8 rebounds per game ... Taylor Thunstedt is also averaging in double figures for NDSU with 17.1 points per game ... Thunstedt ranks third in the league in both three-point field-goal percentage (42.3 percent) and points per game ... NDSU ranks second in The Summit League in three-point field-goal percentage at 36.8 percent ... The Bison are averaging 65.8 points per game, but surrendering 72.5 per game ... North Dakota State is outrebounding its foes, 37.8 to 35.4.
Last Time Out: Whittle, Yaggie Lead NDSU Women's Basketball to 94-85 Victory over IPFW
Marena Whittle matched her career-high with 33 points and added 18 rebounds for her team-high 10th double-double of the season, and Brooke Yaggie added a career-best 25 points and went a perfect 12-of-12 at the free-throw line to lead the North Dakota State University women's basketball team to a 94-85 win over the IPFW Mastodons in front of 459 spectators on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 23, inside the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.
Whittle went 11-of-18 from the floor, including a 2-for-4 effort from three-point range, and 9-of-11 at the free-throw line and added a game-high six assists to go along with three blocks for the Bison.
Taylor Thunstedt chipped in 19 points, and Emily Spier snagged 10 rebounds.
NDSU shot 50 percent from the field for the game, including a 37 percent performance from beyond the arc, and went a season-best 86 percent from the free-throw line in the contest, making 31 of 36 attempts.
The Bison outrebounded IPFW, 42-33, and tallied a 21-8 advantage in assists.
After the Dons' Josie Fisher converted a layup with 11 seconds to go in the third quarter, Yaggie drilled a three at the buzzer off a Whittle assist to put the Bison in front for good, 60-58.
North Dakota State continued to gradually increase its lead in the fourth quarter and led by 10 with 3:55 to go after Whittle splashed home a trey and Yaggie made a pair of free throws.
The Bison went 13-of-14 from the charity stripe in the final two minutes of the game to seal the victory.
Fisher led IPFW with 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field.
Last Time Out Against USD: Bison Women Fall to South Dakota in Double Overtime Thriller, 96-94
Taylor Thunstedt scored a career-high 31 points, and Marena Whittle added a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds, but the North Dakota State women's basketball team fell to the South Dakota Coyotes in double overtime, 96-94, on Thursday, Jan. 14, in front of 386 spectators at the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.
It was the first double overtime contest for the Bison (5-13 overall, 0-5 Summit League) women since the 2013-14 season.
Thunstedt shot 9-of-16 from the field, including a 5-of-9 effort from three-point range, and went 8-of-10 at the free-throw line to eclipse her old career-high of 28. She added five assists and three steals and played all 50 minutes of the game.
Kennedy Childers added 14 points and a career-high five steals, and Brooke Yaggie chipped in 12 points and four assists.
After South Dakota's Margaret McCloud converted a layup with 22 seconds to go in the fourth quarter to give the Yotes (12-5 overall, 3-1 Summit League) an 80-79 lead, Childers drained a three with three seconds remaining in the stanza to put the Bison in front, 82-80. USD's Nicole Seekamp, The Summit League Preseason Player of the Year, converted a jumper shot at the buzzer, sending the game to overtime, 82-82.
Just 33 seconds into OT, Childers was whistled for her fifth foul, leaving the Bison with only five players after Whittle fouled out in the fourth quarter.
Brittany Wiebe put NDSU in front, 88-85, after converting a layup with 2:34 on the clock, but the Yotes Kate Liveringhouse scored three straight points to knot the game at 88.
South Dakota had an opportunity to take a lead after McCloud was fouled with 2.1 seconds remaining in the extra stanza, but she missed two free throws to send the contest into double overtime.
Thunstedt scored five straight points on a three and two free throws in the opening 2:18 of the second extra stanza to give the Bison a 93-88 lead, but the Coyotes responded with a 6-0 run to gain a 94-93 advantage after a layup from Caitlin Duffy with just over a minute remaining.
NDSU shot 49 percent from the field and 42 percent from three-point range in the game, and added a 78 percent performance at the free-throw line.
The Bison outscored South Dakota in the paint, 40-38, and turned 22 Coyote turnovers into 24 points, but were outrebounded by USD in the game, 44-34.
Seekamp tallied a double-double with 25 points and 10 assists to lead the Yotes, while McCloud also added a double-double with 12 points and a team-high 10 boards.
The Coyotes shot 49 percent from the field, 36 percent from three-point range and 65 percent from the charity stripe.
From Downtown!
The Bison rank 17th out of 344 teams in three-point field-goal percentage at 36.8 percent in the latest NCAA Division I Women's Basketball National Rankings.
Whittle Among National Leaders in Double Doubles
Marena Whittle ranks 20th in double doubles in the latest NCAA national statistics with 10.
Whittle Controlling the Glass
Marena Whittle holds the career record for defensive rebounding average at NDSU with 5.5 boards per game and ranks seventh in overall career rebounding average with 7.9 per game. The Victoria, Australia, native leads the Bison and The Summit League and ranks 17th in the latest NCAA women's basketball national statistics in rebounding through 21 games with 10.8 boards per game.
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 118-of-288 for 41 percent. Through 21 games this season, the Spicer, Minn., native leads the Bison and ranks third in The Summit League in three-point field goal percentage at 42.3 percent. In the most recent NCAA national statistics, Thunstedt ranks eighth in three-point field goals made with 63 treys.
Sophomores Excelling in League Play
Sophomores Taylor Thunstedt (41.6 percent) and Brooke Yaggie (47.9 percent) lead the Bison in field-goal percentage in Summit League play through eight league contests.
Thunstedt Making the Pass
Taylor Thunstedt leads the Bison through 20 games with 3.2 assists per game. The sophomore guard dished out a career-best seven assists in NDSU's season opener against New Mexico State on Nov. 13.
Jones Crashing the Boards
Through 21 games, Brianna Jones ranks second on the team and in The Summit League with 8.4 rebounds per game. 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. She also tallied double-digit rebounds against San Diego State (12), Delaware (14), Grand Canyon (13) and IUPUI (11).
Takeaway Leader
Marena Whittle leads the Bison and ranks third in The Summit League with 2.2 steals per game. Whittle has tallied at least three steals in nine of NDSU's 21 contests this season, including a career-high tying six takeaways against Prairie View A&M on Dec. 19 in the Wichita State Shocker Winter Classic.
Summit League Player of the Week
Double-Double Performances
Getting to the Line
Marena Whittle (84.1 percent) ranks third, Brooke Yaggie ranks fifth (77.4 percent) and Taylor Thunstedt (75 percent) ranks eighth in The Summit League in free-throw percentage through 21 contests.
Turnover Woes
North Dakota State has struggled taking care of the basketball this season. The Bison are averaging 17.3 turnovers per game and have surrendered an average of 17.8 points off turnovers.
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.
NDSU in The Summit League Statistics (as of Jan. 28)
Team:
Points - 6th (65.8/game), Rebounds - 4th (37.8/game), Assists - 5th (12.7/game), Steals - 8th (6.6/game), Blocks - 6th (2.7/game), Field-Goal Percentage - 4th (.410), Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage - 2nd (.368), Free-Throw Percentage - 5th (.700), Turnovers - 8th (17.3/game)
Individual:
Marena Whittle - Points: 2nd (17.9/game), Free-Throw Percentage: 3rd (.841), Rebounds: 1st (10.8/game), Turnovers: 3rd (3.8/game), Steals: 3rd (2.2/game), Blocks: 9th (0.9/game); Taylor Thunstedt - Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 3rd (.423), Points: 3rd (17.1/game), Assists: 6th (3.2/game), Turnovers: 2nd (3.9/game), Free-Throw Percentage: 8th (.750); Brianna Jones - Rebounds: 2nd (8.4/game), Turnovers: 10th (2.7/game); Brooke Yaggie - Free-Throw Percentage: 5th (.774)
Bison Women Sixth in Summit League Preseason Poll
The North Dakota State University women's basketball team was picked to finish sixth in The Summit League preseason poll.
The Bison tallied 250 points in the poll.
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.
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 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)
North Dakota State at South Dakota | Jan. 30 | 4:30 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Audio (Free) | Live Video (Free)
Radio - 790 KFGO (Jack Michaels, play-by-play)
TV - MidcoSN/ESPN3/WatchESPN (Jay Elsen, play-by-play; Brad Newitt, color; Carla Metts, sideline reporter)
Bison Women Tip-Off Second Half of League Schedule at South Dakota Saturday
The North Dakota State University women's basketball team begins the second half of Summit League play on Saturday, Jan. 30, at Mid-Major No. 19 ranked South Dakota. Tip-off inside the DakotaDome in Vermillion is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
Series History
Saturday's contest at South Dakota will mark the 66th meeting in the all-time series that dates back to 1977 ... NDSU leads the series, 41-24, but has lost the last six meetings with USD, including a heartbreaking 96-94 double overtime setback to the Coyotes earlier this season.
About South Dakota
South Dakota enters Saturday's contest at 16-5 overall and 7-1 in Summit League competition after winning at Western Illinois on Wednesday, 102-77 ... USD has won 16 of its last 18 games, including its last six contests ... The Yotes are ranked 19th in the latest CollegeInsider.com Women's Mid-Major Top 25 Poll ... Through 21 games, Summit League Preseason Player of the Year Nicole Seekamp leads the Coyotes with 16.8 points per game ... Seekamp has dished out a team and league-high 6.6 assists per game to go along with a team and league-best 3.2 steals per game ... Tia Hemiller (11.4 points per game) and Caitlin Duffy (10.2 points per game) are also averaging in double figures for the Yotes ... Hemiller leads South Dakota on the boards with 5.6 rebounds per game ... USD leads The Summit League in points per game (80.1), rebounds per game (41.3), assists per game (18.0), field-goal percentage (45.1 percent) and three-point field-goal percentage (37.1 percent) ... The Coyotes are holding their opponents to 68.7 points and a league-low 32 rebounds per game ... South Dakota is under the direction of fourth season head coach Amy Williams.
Catching Up with the Bison
The Bison come into Saturday with an overall record of 6-15 and are 1-7 in Summit League play after defeating IPFW on Jan. 23, 94-85 ... The Jan. 23 victory snapped a seven game losing streak for North Dakota State ... Through 21 games, Marena Whittle leads the Bison and ranks second in The Summit League in scoring with 17.9 points per game ... Whittle leads the team and The Summit League on the boards with 10.8 rebounds per game ... Taylor Thunstedt is also averaging in double figures for NDSU with 17.1 points per game ... Thunstedt ranks third in the league in both three-point field-goal percentage (42.3 percent) and points per game ... NDSU ranks second in The Summit League in three-point field-goal percentage at 36.8 percent ... The Bison are averaging 65.8 points per game, but surrendering 72.5 per game ... North Dakota State is outrebounding its foes, 37.8 to 35.4.
Last Time Out: Whittle, Yaggie Lead NDSU Women's Basketball to 94-85 Victory over IPFW
Marena Whittle matched her career-high with 33 points and added 18 rebounds for her team-high 10th double-double of the season, and Brooke Yaggie added a career-best 25 points and went a perfect 12-of-12 at the free-throw line to lead the North Dakota State University women's basketball team to a 94-85 win over the IPFW Mastodons in front of 459 spectators on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 23, inside the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.
Whittle went 11-of-18 from the floor, including a 2-for-4 effort from three-point range, and 9-of-11 at the free-throw line and added a game-high six assists to go along with three blocks for the Bison.
Taylor Thunstedt chipped in 19 points, and Emily Spier snagged 10 rebounds.
NDSU shot 50 percent from the field for the game, including a 37 percent performance from beyond the arc, and went a season-best 86 percent from the free-throw line in the contest, making 31 of 36 attempts.
The Bison outrebounded IPFW, 42-33, and tallied a 21-8 advantage in assists.
After the Dons' Josie Fisher converted a layup with 11 seconds to go in the third quarter, Yaggie drilled a three at the buzzer off a Whittle assist to put the Bison in front for good, 60-58.
North Dakota State continued to gradually increase its lead in the fourth quarter and led by 10 with 3:55 to go after Whittle splashed home a trey and Yaggie made a pair of free throws.
The Bison went 13-of-14 from the charity stripe in the final two minutes of the game to seal the victory.
Fisher led IPFW with 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field.
Last Time Out Against USD: Bison Women Fall to South Dakota in Double Overtime Thriller, 96-94
Taylor Thunstedt scored a career-high 31 points, and Marena Whittle added a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds, but the North Dakota State women's basketball team fell to the South Dakota Coyotes in double overtime, 96-94, on Thursday, Jan. 14, in front of 386 spectators at the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.
It was the first double overtime contest for the Bison (5-13 overall, 0-5 Summit League) women since the 2013-14 season.
Thunstedt shot 9-of-16 from the field, including a 5-of-9 effort from three-point range, and went 8-of-10 at the free-throw line to eclipse her old career-high of 28. She added five assists and three steals and played all 50 minutes of the game.
Kennedy Childers added 14 points and a career-high five steals, and Brooke Yaggie chipped in 12 points and four assists.
After South Dakota's Margaret McCloud converted a layup with 22 seconds to go in the fourth quarter to give the Yotes (12-5 overall, 3-1 Summit League) an 80-79 lead, Childers drained a three with three seconds remaining in the stanza to put the Bison in front, 82-80. USD's Nicole Seekamp, The Summit League Preseason Player of the Year, converted a jumper shot at the buzzer, sending the game to overtime, 82-82.
Just 33 seconds into OT, Childers was whistled for her fifth foul, leaving the Bison with only five players after Whittle fouled out in the fourth quarter.
Brittany Wiebe put NDSU in front, 88-85, after converting a layup with 2:34 on the clock, but the Yotes Kate Liveringhouse scored three straight points to knot the game at 88.
South Dakota had an opportunity to take a lead after McCloud was fouled with 2.1 seconds remaining in the extra stanza, but she missed two free throws to send the contest into double overtime.
Thunstedt scored five straight points on a three and two free throws in the opening 2:18 of the second extra stanza to give the Bison a 93-88 lead, but the Coyotes responded with a 6-0 run to gain a 94-93 advantage after a layup from Caitlin Duffy with just over a minute remaining.
NDSU shot 49 percent from the field and 42 percent from three-point range in the game, and added a 78 percent performance at the free-throw line.
The Bison outscored South Dakota in the paint, 40-38, and turned 22 Coyote turnovers into 24 points, but were outrebounded by USD in the game, 44-34.
Seekamp tallied a double-double with 25 points and 10 assists to lead the Yotes, while McCloud also added a double-double with 12 points and a team-high 10 boards.
The Coyotes shot 49 percent from the field, 36 percent from three-point range and 65 percent from the charity stripe.
From Downtown!
The Bison rank 17th out of 344 teams in three-point field-goal percentage at 36.8 percent in the latest NCAA Division I Women's Basketball National Rankings.
Whittle Among National Leaders in Double Doubles
Marena Whittle ranks 20th in double doubles in the latest NCAA national statistics with 10.
Whittle Controlling the Glass
Marena Whittle holds the career record for defensive rebounding average at NDSU with 5.5 boards per game and ranks seventh in overall career rebounding average with 7.9 per game. The Victoria, Australia, native leads the Bison and The Summit League and ranks 17th in the latest NCAA women's basketball national statistics in rebounding through 21 games with 10.8 boards per game.
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 118-of-288 for 41 percent. Through 21 games this season, the Spicer, Minn., native leads the Bison and ranks third in The Summit League in three-point field goal percentage at 42.3 percent. In the most recent NCAA national statistics, Thunstedt ranks eighth in three-point field goals made with 63 treys.
Sophomores Excelling in League Play
Sophomores Taylor Thunstedt (41.6 percent) and Brooke Yaggie (47.9 percent) lead the Bison in field-goal percentage in Summit League play through eight league contests.
Thunstedt Making the Pass
Taylor Thunstedt leads the Bison through 20 games with 3.2 assists per game. The sophomore guard dished out a career-best seven assists in NDSU's season opener against New Mexico State on Nov. 13.
Jones Crashing the Boards
Through 21 games, Brianna Jones ranks second on the team and in The Summit League with 8.4 rebounds per game. 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. She also tallied double-digit rebounds against San Diego State (12), Delaware (14), Grand Canyon (13) and IUPUI (11).
Takeaway Leader
Marena Whittle leads the Bison and ranks third in The Summit League with 2.2 steals per game. Whittle has tallied at least three steals in nine of NDSU's 21 contests this season, including a career-high tying six takeaways against Prairie View A&M on Dec. 19 in the Wichita State Shocker Winter Classic.
Summit League Player of the Week
- Marena Whittle - Dec. 20, Jan. 25
Double-Double Performances
- Brianna Jones - 12 rebounds, 10 points at San Diego State, Nov. 27; 14 rebounds, 10 points vs. Delaware, Nov. 29
- Emily Spier - 17 points, 12 rebounds vs. Western Illinois, Jan. 21
- Marena Whittle - 32 points, 10 rebounds vs. Valley City State, Nov. 19; 23 points, 10 rebounds vs. Delaware, Nov. 29; 24 points, 17 rebounds vs. Prairie View A&M, Dec. 19; 24 points, 13 rebounds at NJIT, Dec. 22; 20 points, 17 rebounds vs. Cal State Fullerton, Dec. 28; 19 points, 15 rebounds at Omaha, Dec. 30; 14 points, 12 rebounds vs. South Dakota State, Jan. 3; 21 points, 10 rebounds vs. South Dakota, Jan. 14; 16 points, 14 rebounds vs. Western Illinois, Jan. 21; 33 points, 18 rebounds vs. IPFW, Jan. 23
Getting to the Line
Marena Whittle (84.1 percent) ranks third, Brooke Yaggie ranks fifth (77.4 percent) and Taylor Thunstedt (75 percent) ranks eighth in The Summit League in free-throw percentage through 21 contests.
Turnover Woes
North Dakota State has struggled taking care of the basketball this season. The Bison are averaging 17.3 turnovers per game and have surrendered an average of 17.8 points off turnovers.
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.
NDSU in The Summit League Statistics (as of Jan. 28)
Team:
Points - 6th (65.8/game), Rebounds - 4th (37.8/game), Assists - 5th (12.7/game), Steals - 8th (6.6/game), Blocks - 6th (2.7/game), Field-Goal Percentage - 4th (.410), Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage - 2nd (.368), Free-Throw Percentage - 5th (.700), Turnovers - 8th (17.3/game)
Individual:
Marena Whittle - Points: 2nd (17.9/game), Free-Throw Percentage: 3rd (.841), Rebounds: 1st (10.8/game), Turnovers: 3rd (3.8/game), Steals: 3rd (2.2/game), Blocks: 9th (0.9/game); Taylor Thunstedt - Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 3rd (.423), Points: 3rd (17.1/game), Assists: 6th (3.2/game), Turnovers: 2nd (3.9/game), Free-Throw Percentage: 8th (.750); Brianna Jones - Rebounds: 2nd (8.4/game), Turnovers: 10th (2.7/game); Brooke Yaggie - Free-Throw Percentage: 5th (.774)
Bison Women Sixth in Summit League Preseason Poll
The North Dakota State University women's basketball team was picked to finish sixth in The Summit League preseason poll.
The Bison tallied 250 points in the poll.
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.
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 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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