Scene Setter
                The North Dakota State women's basketball team hits the road to open Summit League play this weekend, as the Bison are set to face Western Illinois Saturday, Jan. 2 and Sunday, Jan. 3. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. both days at Western Hall in Macomb, Ill. RJ Larson will have the call on Leatherneck All-Access on GoLeathernecks.com. Keith Brake will have the radio call on Bison 1660.
 
Western Illinois Series History
                  The Leathernecks own a 17-10 lead in the all-time series that dates to a 72-67 Western Illinois victory on Jan. 12, 2008 in Macomb. Western Illinois has won 12 of the last 13 games, with the lone Bison victory in that span being a 68-60 win on Jan. 11, 2019 in Fargo. NDSU has lost six-straight in Macomb dating back to an 83-77 win on Jan. 18, 2014. The Bison are 3-10 all-time at Western Hall.
 
Summit League Opener
                The Bison are 6-7 all-time in the opening game of the Summit League slate. NDSU won its first four Summit League openers, starting with a 78-73 win over Centenary on Dec. 8, 2007. This will be the eighth time the Bison have opened the league slate on the road and the first time ever facing Western Illinois in the league opener.
 
NDSU ranked in College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 Poll
                  For the fourth-straight week, the Bison are ranked in the College Insider Mid-Major Women's Top 25. The Bison are ranked 19th for the third-straight week. NDSU entered the poll for the first time in school history at 16th on Dec. 8. NDSU has also received a vote in USA Today/WBCA Top 25 Coaches Poll for the third-straight week. The vote in the December 15 poll was the first vote as an NCAA Division I school in the poll.
 
Bison Notes

• NDSU finished the non-conference schedule with a 5-1 record. The five victories are tied for the most for the Bison since joining the Summit League. All five came against NCAA Division I opponents, which is the most in that span.
• North Dakota State rallied for a 72-69 win over Kansas on Dec. 21 at Allen Fieldhouse.
• The victory over Kansas was the first against a Big 12 school in NDSU history and the first win over a Power Five school since beating Minnesota on Dec. 22, 2006.
• NDSU used a 13-3 run in the final 2:55 of regulation to force overtime on Dec. 16, as the Bison beat North Dakota 74-67 in a non-conference game.
• Sophomore Ryan Cobbins had her first career double-double, finishing with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
• North Dakota State turned the ball over 13 times in the first half, leading to 22 points, as #24 Iowa State beat NDSU 85-64 on Dec. 12.

Scouting Western Illinois

• The Leathernecks are 1-7 on the year, having defeated Bellarmine 79-57 on Dec. 19.
• Western Illinois ranks eighth in the nation in 3-point attempts with 222 on the season. The Leathernecks also rank 22nd in 3-pointers made at 61, while ranking 233rd in percentage at 27.5.
• Grace Gilmore ranks 15th in the nation with 50 free throw attempts, while ranking 26th with 36 makes.
• Elizabeth Lutz ranks 23rd in the country with 19 steals, which also leads the Summit League.
• Evan Zars ranks 28th in the nation with 14 blocked shots, while ranking 81st with 1.75 per game. Both totals ranks second in the Summit League.

 
Deaton is Eligible for 2020-21 Season
                On Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 4:28 p.m., the NCAA passed a blanket waiver that allowed all transfers from one NCAA Division I school to another to be eligible this season. The waiver allowed sophomore transfer Kadie Deaton to become eligible, after her waiver had been previously denied. Deaton proceeded to score six points and grab two rebounds in 14 minutes in NDSU's victory over North Dakota later that night.
 
Living at the 3-Point Line
                North Dakota State is the only team in a America ranked in the top 15 in the country in 3-point percentage and 3-point percentage defense. NDSU ranks 12th in 3-point percentage at 41.5, while ranking 15th in 3-point percentage defense at 21.7 percent. Both numbers are the best in the Summit League.
 
Young and Ready to Run
                The Bison enter the 2020-21 season as one of the youngest teams in America. The Bison average 19.769 years old (year only), which ranks as the 12th youngest team in the country. Oral Roberts, LaSalle, Incarnate Word and Montana State all average 19.3 years.
 
Experience on the Fly
                Seniors Emily Dietz and Michelle Gaislerova are the only two players on the NDSU roster with more than two years experience playing at the NCAA Division I level. With 84.6 percent of the NDSU roster having two years or less experience, the Bison rank 16th in the country. Murray State, Ole Miss and Indiana State all have a roster complete with players with two or less years of NCAA Division I experience.
 
Gaislerova, Cobbins Honored by The Summit League
                Michelle Gaislerova and Ryan Cobbins were honored by the Summit League last year. Gaislerova earned a spot on the All-Summit League Honorable Mention team, while Cobbins was named to the Summit League All-Newcomer Team.
                Gaislerova led the Bison with 13.1 points per game in league play, ranking 10th in the league. She ranked seventh in the league in 3-point percentage at 39.4, while leading the Summit League in free throw percentage at 97.4 percent. Her 28 3-pointers were the sixth most in the league.
                Cobbins averaged 10.1 points per game in league play, ranking third among newcomers to the league. She also averaged 3.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game in league play. Cobbins ranked 10th in the league in free throw percentage at 78 percent. 
 
Gaislerova Joins 1,000 Point Club
                Junior Michelle Gaislerova scored 18 points against Purdue Fort Wayne on Feb. 13, becoming the 34th member of the 1,000 point club. Needing just one point to start the game, Gaislerova scored the opening basket of the game. She is the seventh player to have done so with all years being played during the NCAA Division I era.
 
A New 3-Point Streak
                The Bison went 0-of-14 from 3-point range against Valparaiso last year, ending a streak of 113-straight games with at least two 3-pointers. The last time NDSU didn't hit a 3-pointer in a game was Nov. 29, 2015 against Delaware. Since the game against Valparaiso, the Bison have hit at least two in each of the last 33 games.
 
Gaislerova Makes NCAA History
                With her third made free throw against Purdue Fort Wayne on Feb. 13, junior Michelle Gaislerova broke the NCAA Division I women's record for most consecutive free throws made with 71. Gaislerova extended the streak to 75 before missing her second attempt against North Dakota on Feb. 23. Her total is the third longest streak in all NCAA women's divisions.
 
Last Time Against Western Illinois
                Western Illinois used a 26-15 fourth quarter advantage Feb. 1, 2020, as the Leathernecks beat the North Dakota State women's basketball team 86-79 at Western Hall. NDSU dropped to 6-15 overall and 3-6 in Summit League play with the loss, while Western Illinois improved to 12-11 overall and 6-4 in league play. The Leathernecks took both games in the season series, winning in double overtime in Fargo on Jan. 2.
                Five Bison scored in double figures, led by Michelle Gaislerova's 12th career 20-plus point game with 20 points. Ryan Cobbins had 14 points for her sixth-straight game in double figures, while Raquel Terrer van Gool had a career-high 12 points. Rylee Nudell and Nicole Scales each had 10 points. Olivia Kaufmann led the Leathernecks with a game-high 24 points.
                Emily Dietz had a game-high 11 rebounds, while Nudell and Gaislerova had seven and five respectively. Scales had five assists, while Cobbins added four. Dietz made her 50th-straight start, while Nudell moved into seventh in school history with her 99th career start.
                The Bison were 30-of-65 (46.2%) from the floor and 6-of-17 (35.3%) from 3-point range. Western Illinois was 29-of-71 (40.8%) from the field and 9-of-24 (37.5%) from downtown. The Leathernecks were 19-of-26 (73.1%) at the free throw line, while NDSU was 13-of-21 (61.9%). The Leathernecks had a 23-5 advantage in points off turnovers, while NDSU had a 42-23 advantage in bench points.
                With the game tied at 42-42 at halftime, NDSU opened the second half on an 8-2 run. The Bison took a 64-60 lead into the fourth quarter after Western Illinois got a pair of free throws from Kaufmann with :04 left on the clock in the third period. The Leathernecks opened the fourth quarter on a 6-0 run in less than a minute. Back-to-back baskets by Nudell and Gaislerova tied the game at 72-72 with 4:48 to play before the Leathernecks closed the game on a 14-7 run.
 
Last Time Out
                After a slow start, the North Dakota State women's basketball team rallied for a 72-69 win over Kansas Dec. 21 at Allen Fieldhouse. The victory was the first over a school from the Big 12 and the first win over a Power Five school since defeating Minnesota on Dec. 22, 2006. The Bison close non-conference play at 5-1 overall, while Kansas dropped to 4-2 on the year.
                Heaven Hamling led the Bison with 14 points, while Marie Olson and Emily Dietz each had 11 points. Olson had a season-high eight rebounds, while Dietz and Kadie Deaton each had six boards. Hamling added five assists and two steals, while Dietz tied a career-high with three steals. Olson and Dietz each had a pair of blocks. Tina Stephens led the Jayhawks with 16 points.
                The Bison were 24-of-62 (38.7%) from the floor and 7-of-20 (35%) from 3-point range. Kansas was 23-of-61 (37.7%) from the field and 2-of-17 (11.8%) from downtown. The Bison were 17-of-26 (65.4%) at the free throw line, while Kansas was 21-of-28 at the charity stripe.
                After a basket by Hamling to open the scoring, Kansas rattled off 13-straight points before taking an 18-5 lead after the first quarter. NDSU bounced back and opened the second quarter on a 19-8 run, cutting the lead to 30-29 at the half as Olson hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer. NDSU took its largest lead at 45-39 with 4:36 to play in the third quarter. A 10-5 run by Kansas to close the third quarter gave the Jayhawks a 54-52 lead going into the fourth quarter. The Bison used a 10-4 run to take a 68-63 lead with 1:12 to go and sealed the victory at the free throw line in the final minute.
 
NDSU Women's Basketball Picked Fifth In Summit League Preseason Poll
                The North Dakota State Bison women's basketball team was voted fifth in the Summit League preseason poll. This is the first time NDSU has been picked inside the top five since being projected for fourth in 2012. Defending champion South Dakota was tabbed the preseason favorite with 25 first-place votes, while South Dakota State was picked second with 11 first-place votes. Western Illinois was picked for third, while Oral Roberts was tabbed fourth. NDSU was picked for fifth, followed by Kansas City and Denver. North Dakota and Omaha round out the poll in eighth and ninth, respectively. The Bison received 371 points, sitting just five behind Oral Roberts for fourth. Kansas City, the defending WAC Champion who returns to the league this year, had 323 points.
 
Bison Add Four on National Signing Day
                The North Dakota State women's basketball team has announced four additions to the roster, beginning in the 2021-22 season. Ellie Dague, a 5-10 guard from Henning, Minn., Katie Hildebrandt, a 6-2 forward from McFarland, Wis., Abbey Kubas, a 5-11 forward from Dickinson, N.D. and Sophie Olson, a 5-10 guard/forward from El Dorado Hills, Calif. are all set to join the Bison.
                Dague is ranked the fifth-best guard in Minnesota and the 13th best player overall. She was named to the Minnesota 1A All-State team while averaging 20.7 points and 5.3 rebounds as a junior.
                Hildebrandt is ranked the 18th best player and second-best small forward in Wisconsin. She averaged 14.5 points and 9.6 rebounds per game as a junior.
                Kubas is ranked the 12th best player and fourth-best small forward in North Dakota. She hit the 1,000 point mark as a junior, while averaging 20 points and 11 rebounds per game.
                Olson is ranked the 10th best shooting guard and 43rd player overall in California. She led Oak Ridge High School to the state tournament in 2018 and 2020. Olson is the younger sister of Bison redshirt-sophomore Marie Olson.
 
The Jory Collins Show
                Tune in every Monday night to the Bison Basketball Radio Show with Jory Collins on Bison 1660. Collins and Keith Brake recap the last few games and preview the upcoming schedule. The show airs at 7 p.m. on the following dates: Dec. 7, Dec. 14, Dec. 28, Jan. 11, Jan. 18, Jan. 25, Feb. 1, Feb. 8, Feb. 15, Feb. 22, March 1 and March 15.
 
On The Horizon
                The Bison will return home for the first time in nearly a month on Jan. 8 against Omaha. The two teams will also face each other on Saturday, Jan. 9 at the Scheels Center. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. for both games.