North Dakota State Athletics
Fort Wayne
Players Mentioned
North Dakota State Travels to Fort Wayne Thursday for Summit League Game
2/12/2018 12:43:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Thursday, Feb. 15 | 6 p.m. ET | Fort Wayne, Ind. (Gates Sports Center)
Radio: Bison 1660, 92.7 FM, Bison1660.com, Bison 1660 app (Keith Brake, pxp)
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NDSU Notes (PDF)
NDSU WBB on Twitter: @NDSUwbb
Scene Setter
North Dakota State will look to end a six-game losing streak when it travels to Fort Wayne, Ind., to take on the Fort Wayne Mastodons Thursday, Feb. 15, at 6 p.m. ET inside the Gates Sports Center.
Series History
Thursday's contest against the Mastodons will mark the 27th meeting in the all-time series that dates back to 1996. NDSU leads the series, 17-9. The Bison defeated Fort Wayne earlier this season in Fargo, 72-56. North Dakota State's last win in Fort Wayne was a 72-66 victory during the 2014-15 season.
Bison Notes
- North Dakota State enters the week with an overall record of 8-17 and a Summit League record of 1-10 after falling to Denver Feb. 10, 78-73.
- NDSU has dropped its last six games, with its last victory coming against Fort Wayne Jan. 20.
- Through 25 games, the Bison are led by a trio of sophomores in Reilly Jacobson (10.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game), Sarah Jacobson (10.3 points and 4.2 assists per game) and Rylee Nudell (10.2 points per game, 55 percent field-goal percentage).
- Nudell ranks fourth in The Summit League in field-goal percentage, while Sarah Jacobson is second in assists and fourth in three-point field-goal percentage (44 percent), and Reilly Jacobson is eighth in rebounding.
- As a team, NDSU is averaging 68.2 points, 35.8 rebounds and 15.4 turnovers per game while its opponents are averaging 72.7 points, 38.6 boards and 13 turnovers per game.
- In the latest Summit League statistics, the Bison rank first in blocks (4.4 blocks per game) and third in assists (16.4 per game), three-point field-goal percentage (37.3 percent) and three-point field-goal percentage defense (33 percent).
- The Bison were picked to finish sixth in The Summit League preseason poll.
About Fort Wayne
- The Fort Wayne Mastodons enter the week at 4-21 overall and 1-11 in Summit League play after falling at Omaha Feb. 11, 77-61.
- Fort Wayne has lost 15 of its last 16 games, including the last eight contests.
- Through 25 games, the Mastodons are led by junior guard De'Jour Young, who is averaging 11.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
- As a team, Fort Wayne is averaging 57.2 points, 31.5 rebounds and 17 turnovers per game while its opponents are averaging 75.2 points, 33.6 rebounds and 11 turnovers per game.
- The Mastodons rank eighth out of eight teams in The Summit League in scoring offense, scoring defense, field-goal percentage (38 percent), field-goal percentage defense (48 percent), three-point field-goal percentage defense (37 percent), rebounding, assists (9.6 per game) and steals (4.7 per game), but are third in the league in free-throw percentage (76 percent) and fifth in blocked shots (2.7 per game).
- Fort Wayne was picked to finish eighth in The Summit League preseason poll.
- The Mastodons are under the direction of second season head coach Niecee Nelson.
Last Time Out: Denver Holds On to Defeat Bison Women in Pink Game, 78-73
The University of Denver Pioneers made three free throws in the final 14 seconds of the fourth quarter to secure a 78-73 victory over the North Dakota State University women's basketball team Saturday, Feb. 10, before a season-high 1,392 spectators inside the Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in the annual Pink Game for Breast Cancer Awareness.
Sophomore Reilly Jacobson scored 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting from the field and went 4-of-4 at the free-throw line to lead NDSU. Fellow sophomore Sarah Jacobson added 14 points and a team-high four assists, while freshman Michelle Gaislerova posted 13 points.
Sophomore Autumn Ogden snagged five rebounds, leading the Bison on the glass.
NDSU and Denver battled to five ties and three lead changes in the fourth quarter before the Pioneers used a quick 5-0 run to gain a 69-64 advantage with 2:17 to go in the frame. The Bison trimmed the lead down to two points twice in the final two minutes of the quarter, but could get no closer.
North Dakota State shot 50 percent from the floor, 35 percent from three-point range and went 17-of-22 at the foul line for 77 percent, but were outrebounded, 38-24.
The Bison also committed 18 turnovers in the game which led to 21 Pioneer points.
Samantha Romanowski netted 15 points on 7-for-11 shooting, and Jordyn Alt pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds, leading Denver.
Home Sweet Home
After playing six of its nine league games on the road, NDSU will play four of its final five contests at home in the friendly confines of the Scheels Center. North Dakota State's lone remaining regular season road game is Thursday at Fort Wayne.
Jacobson² Leading Bison in League Play
Sophomores Sarah Jacobson and Reilly Jacobson are averaging a combined 24.2 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game in North Dakota State's 11 Summit League games. Reilly Jacobson is averaging a team-high 12.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, and is shooting 51 percent from the floor, while Sarah Jacobson is averaging 11.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and a team-best 3.3 assists per game in league play.
Jacobson among NDSU Career Leaders
Sarah Jacobson ranks in the NDSU career records top 10 in both three-point field-goal percentage and assists average. Jacobson is second in career three-point field-goal percentage at 39 percent and seventh in career assists average with 3.8 assists per game.
Thunstedt Ascends NDSU Career Scoring Chart
Senior Taylor Thunstedt ranks 12th on the NDSU women's basketball career scoring chart with 1,370 career points entering Thursday's game. She holds the NDSU career records for both three-point field goals made (273) and attempted (725), and ranks fourth in career three-point field-goal percentage (38 percent).
From Downtown
The Bison rank third in The Summit League and 25th nationally in three-point field-goal percentage at 37 percent through 25 games. Individually, NDSU has two players ranked in the top-10 in the league in three-point field-goal percentage. Sarah Jacobson is fourth at 44.1 percent while Michelle Gaislerova is seventh at 42.1 percent.
Sharing the Basketball
Through 25 games, North Dakota State ranks third in The Summit League and 36th nationally in assists per game (16.4) and total assists (409).
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 25 games. Jacobson leads NDSU and ranks second in the league with 4.2 assist per game while Fernandez is 8th with 2.7 assists per game.
Reilly and Rylee Making an Impact Offensively and Defensively
Through 25 games, Reilly Jacobson and Rylee Nudell are averaging a combined 21 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. Jacobson is averaging 10.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game while Nudell is averaging 10.2 points, 3.8 boards and 2.2 assists per game.
Converting Shots
Rylee Nudell leads NDSU and ranks fourth in The Summit League in field-goal percentage at 55 percent. She has made 99 shots in 180 attempts in 25 games.
The Bison Block Party
Entering the week NDSU leads The Summit League in blocked shots with 111 blocks and 4.4 blocks per game. Individually, three Bison rank in the top-10 in the league in blocks. Macey Kvilvang is fourth with 31 blocks and 1.2 blocks per game, Reilly Jacobson is fifth with 25 blocks and 1.1 blocks per game and Marina Fernandez is ninth with 16 blocks and 0.7 blocks per game.
Taking Care of the Basketball
Through 25 games, Sarah Jacobson ranks third in The Summit League in assist-to-turnover ratio. Jacobson has 105 assists and 65 turnovers for a 1.6 ratio.
Bench Contributions
The NDSU bench has outscored opposing benches 728-501 through 25 games. NDSU is averaging 29.1 bench points per game while its opponents are only averaging 20 bench points per game.
