NDSU Women’s Hoops Hosts Denver at Scheels Arena Saturday for Home Finale and Senior Day

Saturday, February 20

Fargo, N.D.

1 p.m.

North Dakota State

Denver

Photo by: Richard Svaleson

NDSU Women’s Hoops Hosts Denver at Scheels Arena Saturday for Home Finale and Senior Day

2/19/2016 11:50:00 AM | Women's Basketball

NDSU Women's Basketball on Twitter
Full Game Notes (PDF)
North Dakota State vs. Denver | Feb. 20 | 1 p.m.
Scheels Arena | Fargo, N.D.
Senior Day
Live Stats | Live Audio | Live Video
Radio - 790 KFGO (Jack Michaels, play-by-play; Jeremy Jorgenson, color)
TV - NBC North Dakota (Brian Shawn, play-by-play; Katie Johnson, color)

NDSU Women's Hoops Hosts Denver at Scheels Arena Saturday for Home Finale and Senior Day
        The North Dakota State University women's basketball team hosts the Denver Pioneers on Saturday, Feb. 20, at Scheels Arena at 1 p.m. for the final home game of the season and Senior Day. At the conclusion of the contest, NDSU senior guard Marena Whittle and senior student manager Amanda Hauf will be honored.

Series History
        Saturday's home finale will mark the 12th meeting all-time between the Bison and Pioneers in women's basketball ... NDSU leads the series, 7-4, but fell to the Pioneers earlier this season in Denver Jan. 7, 64-53.

About Denver
        Denver is 4-23 overall and 2-12 in Summit League play after falling at South Dakota State Feb. 18, 80-52 ... The Pioneers have dropped their last 10 games ... Through 27 contests, senior Paige Bradley (13.6 points per game) and freshman Samantha Romanowski (9.9 points per game) lead Denver in scoring, while sophomore Jordyn Alt paces the Pioneers on the boards with 8.2 rebounds per game ... Denver ranks last in The Summit League in points per game (53.2), rebounds per game (30.4) and three-point field-goal percentage (28.6 percent) ... DU is being outscored, 65.9 to 53.2, and outrebounded, 37.4 to 30.4 ... Denver is under the leadership of fourth season head coach Kerry Cremeans.

Catching Up with the Bison
        The Bison enter Saturday with an overall record of 7-19 and are 2-11 in Summit League play after defeating Omaha at home on Feb. 14, 74-67 ... Through 26 games, Marena Whittle leads the Bison and ranks second in The Summit League in scoring with 17.3 points per game ... Whittle leads the team and the league on the boards with 10.4 rebounds per game ... Taylor Thunstedt is also averaging in double figures for NDSU with 16.4 points per game ... Thunstedt leads the team and ranks fifth in the league in three-point field-goal percentage at 39.1 percent ... NDSU ranks second in The Summit League in three-point field-goal percentage at 35.1 percent ... The Bison are averaging 64.5 points per game, but surrendering 72.1 per game ... North Dakota State is outrebounding its foes, 36.6 to 35.7.

Last Time Out: Balanced Attack Helps Bison Women Past Omaha Sunday, 74-67
        Sophomore Taylor Thunstedt scored 21 points to pace a group of three players in double figures as the North Dakota State University women's basketball team defeated the Omaha Mavericks, 74-67, in the annual Edith Sanford Breast Health Pink Game before 632 spectators on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 14, inside the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.
        Thunstedt went only 4-for-12 from the field, but shot 50 percent (4-of-8) from three-point range and a game-best 90 percent (9-of-10) at the free-throw line as she reached double digits for the 21st time this season.
        Junior Emily Spier poured in a career-high 20 points on a career-best 10-of-12 shooting (83 percent) from the floor, while senior Marena Whittle nearly posted a triple-double with 14 points and a game-high 12 boards and nine assists.
        NDSU (7-19, 2-11 Summit League) shot 48 percent from the field, including a 40 percent effort from beyond the arc, and went a season-best 88 percent at the free-throw line in the game, making 14 of 16 attempts.
        The Bison outrebounded Omaha, 38-29, and dished out 17 assists compared to only 10 for the Mavs (12-13, 5-8 Summit League).
        NDSU used a 13-0 run from 9:08 to 5:51 remaining in the second quarter to turn a 22-18 deficit into a 31-22 advantage. Whittle sparked the offensive surge with a jumper, followed by a trey from Thunstedt and jumper from Spier. Megan Gamble continued the run with a layup, and Whittle netted two more layups before UNO's Mikaela Shaw ended the spurt with a pair of free throws.
        The Bison went into halftime leading, 35-27.
        North Dakota State continued to grow its lead in the third quarter and led by 16 after a three from Thunstedt with 7:31 to go in the stanza. The Mavs were able to cut the Bison lead to 57-48 at the end of the quarter.
        Omaha utilized a 9-0 run at the start of the fourth quarter to knot the game, 57-57, and gained a one-point lead after Caroline Hogue made one of two free throws with 7:28 remaining.
        The two teams traded leads until Kennedy Childers buried a jumper that put the Bison up for good, 67-65, with 3:01 to go. NDSU iced the game by going five of six at the free-throw line in the final 36 seconds of the quarter.
        Shaw, the Summit League's leading scorer, led the Mavs with a game-high 23 points.
        Omaha shot 42 percent from the field, but went just 19 percent from three-point range in the game.

Last Time Out Against Denver: Bison Women Fall at Denver Thursday, 64-53
        The North Dakota State University women's basketball team fell at Denver, 64-53, in front of 247 spectators on Thursday evening, Jan. 7, inside Magness Arena.
        Senior Marena Whittle led the Bison (5-11, 0-3 Summit League) in scoring with 28 points on 11-of-20 shooting from the field, while junior Brianna Jones paced North Dakota State on the boards with a game-high nine rebounds.
        North Dakota State shot 39 percent from the field, 29 percent from three-point range and 60 percent from the free-throw line for the game.
        The Bison outrebounded the Pioneers (3-13, 1-2 Summit League) in the contest, 32-27, but committed 19 turnovers and were outscored in the paint, 24-18.
        Paige Bradley scored a game-high 31 points on 12-for-19 shooting, including a 4-of-6 effort from beyond the arc, to lead Denver.
        Denver shot 50 percent from the field for the game, making 26 of 52 attempts.

From Downtown!
        The Bison rank 36th out of 344 teams in three-point field-goal percentage at 35.1 percent in the latest NCAA Division I Women's Basketball National Rankings.

Whittle Among National Leaders in Double Doubles
        Marena Whittle ranks 22nd in double doubles in the latest NCAA national statistics with 12.

Whittle Controlling the Glass
        Marena Whittle holds the career record for defensive rebounding average at NDSU with 5.6 boards per game and ranks fifth in overall career rebounding average with 7.9 per game. The Victoria, Australia, native leads the Bison and The Summit League and ranks 18th in the latest NCAA women's basketball national statistics in rebounding through 26 games with 10.4 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 127-of-323 for 39.3 percent. Through 26 games this season, the Spicer, Minn., native leads the Bison and ranks fourth in The Summit League in three-point field-goal percentage at 39.1 percent. In the most recent NCAA national statistics, Thunstedt ranks 15th in three-point field goals made with 72 treys.

Post Presence
        Emily Spier is averaging 11.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game and shooting a team-best 59.2 percent (29-of-49) from the field in her last five games. The Buffalo, Minn., native scored a career-high 20 points in NDSU's win over Omaha last weekend.

Yaggie, Spier Excelling in League Play
        Brooke Yaggie (40 percent) and Emily Spier (47.1 percent) lead the Bison in field-goal percentage in Summit League play through 13 league contests.

Thunstedt Making the Pass
        Taylor Thunstedt leads the Bison through 26 games with 3.3 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 26 games, Brianna Jones ranks second on the team is tied for fifth in The Summit League with 7.7 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 tallied 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; 21 points, 10 rebounds vs. IUPUI, Feb. 12; 14 points, 12 rebounds vs. Omaha, Feb. 14

Getting to the Line
        Marena Whittle (83.9 percent) ranks third, Brooke Yaggie (77.9 percent) ranks fifth and Taylor Thunstedt (77.4 percent) ranks sixth in The Summit League in free-throw percentage through 26 contests.

Clutch at the Foul Line
        Brooke Yaggie is shooting 83.3 percent from the free-throw line in the last five minutes of games this season, going 25-of-30.

Turnover Woes
        North Dakota State has struggled taking care of the basketball this season. The Bison are averaging a Summit League-high 18 turnovers per game and have surrendered an average of 18.6 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 Feb. 19)
Team:
Points - 6th (64.5/game), Rebounds - 5th (36.6/game), Assists - 5th (12.3/game), Steals - 8th (6.7/game), Blocks - T-6th (2.8/game), Field-Goal Percentage - 5th (.410), Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage - 2nd (.351), Free-Throw Percentage - 2nd (.719), Turnovers - 9th (18.0/game)

Individual:
Marena Whittle - Points: 2nd (17.3/game), Free-Throw Percentage: 3rd (.839), Rebounds: 1st (10.4/game), Turnovers: 2nd (4.0/game), Steals: 3rd (2.2/game), Blocks: 7th (1.0/game); Taylor Thunstedt - Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 4th (.391), Points: 3rd (16.4/game), Assists: 5th (3.3/game), Turnovers: 3rd (3.8/game), Free-Throw Percentage: 6th (.774); Brianna Jones - Rebounds: T-5th (7.7/game); Brooke Yaggie - Free-Throw Percentage: 5th (.779)

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.