North Dakota State Athletics
Omaha
NDSU Concludes First-Half of Summit League Play at Omaha, Western Illinois
1/22/2018 2:41:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Wednesday, Jan. 24 | 7 p.m. | Omaha, Neb. (Baxter Arena)
Radio: Bison 1660 AM, 92.7 FM, Bison1660.com, Bison 1660 app
Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
North Dakota State at Western Illinois
Saturday, Jan. 27 | 4:30 p.m. | Macomb, Ill. (Western Hall)
Radio: Bison 1660, 92.7 FM, Bison1660.com, Bison 1660 app
Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
NDSU Notes (PDF)
NDSU WBB on Twitter: @NDSUwbb
Scene Setter
The North Dakota State women's basketball team will conclude the first-half of its Summit League schedule with a pair of road games at Omaha and Western Illinois. The Bison will play at Omaha Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 7 p.m. before traveling to Western Illinois for a 4:30 p.m. contest Saturday, Jan. 27.
Series History
- Omaha: Wednesday's game at Omaha will mark the 62nd meeting in the all-time series that dates back to 1980. NDSU leads the series, 45-16. Last season, the Bison dropped two games to the Mavericks, losing in Fargo, 80-60, before falling in Omaha, Neb., 90-64.
- Western Illinois: Saturday's contest at Western Illinois will be the 22nd meeting in the all-time series that dates back to 2008. The Leathernecks lead the series, 12-9, and have won the last seven encounters. Last season, the Bison fell to WIU in Macomb, Ill., 110-81, and Fargo, 87-60.
Bison Notes
- NDSU enters the week with an overall record of 8-11 and a Summit League record of 1-4 after defeating Fort Wayne Saturday at home, 72-56.
- Through 19 contests, the Bison are led in scoring by sophomore forwards Reilly Jacobson (10 points per game) and Rylee Nudell (9.8 points per game). Freshman guard Michelle Gaislerova, sophomore guard Sarah Jacobson and senior guard Taylor Thunstedt are each averaging 9.4 points per game, respectively.
- On the glass, North Dakota State is paced by Reilly Jacobson (5.6 rebounds per game), Sarah Jacobson (4.2 rebounds per game) and freshman forward Macey Kvilvang (4.2 rebounds per game).
- Sarah Jacobson leads the Bison in assists with 4.5 assists per game, and Kvilvang is averaging a team-best 1.2 blocks per game.
- As a team, NDSU is averaging 69.3 points, 37.3 rebounds and 14.8 turnovers per game while its opponents are averaging 70.2 points, 39.9 rebounds and 13.9 turnovers per game.
- The Bison lead The Summit League in three-point field-goal percentage (38 percent) and blocked shots (4.5 per game), and rank second in assists (17.2 per game) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.2).
- The Bison were picked to finish sixth in The Summit League preseason poll.
About Omaha
- The Omaha Mavericks enter the week at 8-10 overall and 0-6 in Summit League play after falling at league-leading South Dakota Jan. 20, 70-46. The Mavs have dropped eight of their last nine games.
- Through 18 contests, Omaha is led offensively by junior guards Amber Vidal (11.5 points per game), Jess Walter (11.3 points per game) and Ellie Brecht (10.6 points per game).
- Junior center Courtney Vaccher paces the Mavs on the boards with 6.5 rebounds per game.
- As a team, Omaha is averaging 64.5 points, 34.8 rebounds and 16.5 turnovers per game while its adversaries are averaging 71.1 points, 36.7 rebounds and 13.1 turnovers per game.
- The Mavericks were picked to finish fifth in The Summit League preseason poll.
- Omaha is under the direction of fifth season head coach Brittany Lange.
About Western Illinois
- The Western Illinois University Leathernecks enter the week at 14-6 overall and 4-2 in Summit League action after losing at South Dakota State Jan. 20, 84-48.
- WIU is scheduled to host Denver Wednesday before facing the Bison Saturday.
- Through 20 games, the Leathernecks are led by senior guard Emily Clemens, who ranks second in The Summit League in scoring with 16.8 points per game and leads the league with 7.5 assists and 3.5 steals per game, and a 2.5 assist-to-turnover ratio.
- Junior guard Taylor Higginbotham leads the team and ranks second in the league with 7.6 rebounds per game. She is also averaging 16.3 points per game -- second-most on the team.
- As a team, Western Illinois is averaging a league-high 80.3 points to go along with 38.1 rebounds and 13.5 turnovers per game while its opponents are averaging 65.2 points, 41.8 boards and 20.5 turnovers per game.
- WIU was picked to finish second in The Summit League preseason poll.
- Western Illinois is under the leadership of seventh season head coach J.D. Gravina.
Last Time Out: NDSU Women's Basketball Never Trails in 72-56 Win Over Fort Wayne
The North Dakota State University women's basketball team never trailed in a 72-56 victory over the Fort Wayne Mastodons on Alumni Day Saturday afternoon, Jan. 20, inside the Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex.
Sarah Jacobson led NDSU (8-11, 1-4 Summit League) in scoring with 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting and dished out a game-high four assists, while Reilly Jacobson tallied 16 points on 7-for-12 shooting.
Autumn Ogden, who made her first career start in the contest, and Macey Kvilvang each pulled down seven rebounds to pace the Bison on the glass.
For the game, North Dakota State shot 46 percent from the field, converting 26 of 56 shots, and 76 percent at the free-throw line, making 16 out of 21 foul shots.
The Bison outrebounded the Mastodons (4-16, 1-6 Summit League), 40-27, and tallied an impressive 32-10 advantage in points in the paint. NDSU also netted 15 points off 12 Mastodon turnovers.
Kierstyn Repp scored a game-high 23 points to lead Fort Wayne.
Jacobson² Leading Bison in League Play
Sophomores Sarah Jacobson and Reilly Jacobson are averaging a combined 21.6 points, 10.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game in North Dakota State's five Summit League games. Reilly Jacobson is averaging a team-high 11.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, and is shooting 52 percent from the floor, while Sarah Jacobson is averaging 10.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and a team-best 3.4 assists per game in league play.
From Downtown
The Bison lead The Summit League and rank 24th nationally in three-point field-goal percentage at 38 percent through 19 games. Individually, NDSU has two players ranked in the top-10 in the league in three-point field-goal percentage. Michelle Gaislerova ranks third at 46 percent, while Sarah Jacobson is seventh at 42 percent.
Sharing the Basketball
Through 19 games, North Dakota State ranks second in The Summit League and 24th nationally in assists per game (17.2). The Bison rank 28th nationally in total assists (327).
Fernandez and Jacobson Making the Pass
Sarah Jacobson and Marina Fernandez both rank in the top-10 of The Summit League in assists per game through 19 games. Jacobson leads NDSU and ranks second in the league with 4.5 assist per game while Fernandez is seventh with 2.9 assists per game.
Gaislerova, for Three!
Through five Summit League games, Michelle Gaislerova is shooting a team-high 44 percent from three-point range. The Trutnov, Czech Republic, native has made eight of 18 attempts from downtown.
Reilly and Rylee Making an Impact Offensively and Defensively
Through 19 games, Reilly Jacobson and Rylee Nudell are averaging a combined 19.8 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Jacobson is averaging 10 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game while Nudell is averaging 9.8 points, 3.6 boards and 2.1 assists per game.
Converting Shots
Rylee Nudell leads NDSU and ranks third in The Summit League in field-goal percentage at 56 percent. She has made 76 shots in 136 attempts in 19 games.
The Bison Block Party
Entering the week NDSU leads The Summit League in blocked shots with 85 blocks and 4.5 blocks per game. Individually, three Bison rank in the top-10 in the league in blocks. Macey Kvilvang is second with 23 blocks and 1.2 blocks per game, Reilly Jacobson is fifth with 19 blocks and 1.1 blocks per game, and Autumn Ogden is ninth with 14 blocks and 0.7 blocks per game.
Taking Care of the Basketball
Through 19 games, Rylee Nudell ranks second (2.2), Sarah Jacobson ranks sixth (1.7) and Marina Fernandez ranks ninth (1.6) in The Summit League in assist-to-turnover ratio. Nudell has 40 assists and 18 turnovers, Jacobson has 86 assists and 50 turnovers, and Fernandez has 55 assists and 35 turnovers.
Bench Contributions
The NDSU bench has outscored opposing benches 619-354 through 19 games. NDSU is averaging 32.6 bench points per game while its opponents are only averaging 18.6 bench points per game.
Record Watch
Taylor Thunstedt holds the NDSU career records for three-pointers made (268) and three-point field goals attempted (704). She ranks second in three-point field-goal percentage (38.1 percent) and 10th in scoring average (12.7 points per game).
On the Horizon
North Dakota State returns home to host South Dakota State Thursday, Feb. 1, at 7 p.m. before traveling to Vermillion, S.D., to face South Dakota Saturday, Feb. 3, at 1 p.m.
