Scene Setter
                The North Dakota State women's basketball team returns to the Scheels Center this weekend, as the Bison host Oral Roberts on Friday, Feb. 5 and Saturday, Feb. 6. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. both days. Both games will be streamed on Bison All-Access at GoBison.com/allaccess. Keith Brake and Katie Johnson will have the radio call on Bison 1660.
 
Oral Roberts Series History
                  The Golden Eagles own a 19-5 advantage in the all-time series that dates to an 82-67 Oral Roberts victory on Nov. 11, 2006 in Tulsa. Oral Roberts has won 12-straight games in the series dating back to Feb. 11, 2015. The Bison are 4-7 at home in the series, including the last victory against Oral Roberts on Jan. 2, 2015, a 77-64 NDSU win.
 
Bison Notes

• For the second-straight weekend, and third time in conference play, NDSU split a weekend series at Kansas City. The Bison dropped a 53-45 decision on Friday, but bounced back for a 68-65 win on Saturday. NDSU is 6-0 on the year in the second game of a weekend series.
• Senior Emily Dietz went over 800 points for her career in the loss on Friday, scoring a team-high 17 points. Dietz is the 51st player in school history to surpass 800 career points.
• NDSU split a pair of games with Denver January 22-23, dropping a 62-60 contest on Friday night before beating the Pioneers 74-56 on Saturday.
• Friday's game was the 300th as a head coach for Jory Collins, becoming the fourth coach in the Summit League to reach that mark.
• With three 3-pointers in the win on Saturday, senior Michelle Gaislerova became the second player in school history to hit over 200 career 3-pointers.
• NDSU completed a weekend sweep of North Dakota on Dec. 16, beating the Fighting Hawks for the fifth-straight time with a 64-60 win on Friday and a 71-68 overtime win on Saturday.

Scouting Oral Roberts

• The Golden Eagles are 6-8 on the year and 4-2 in Summit League play. Oral Roberts had a bye last weekend. The Golden Eagles have played North Dakota, Denver and Kansas City so far, having an identical 4-2 record in those six games as the Bison.
• Oral Roberts played six games in the non-conference against Power Five schools, finishing with an 0-6 record in those games.
• The Golden Eagles rank 23rd in the nation with 322 free throw attempts and 33rd with 216 makes, but rank 218th in percentage at 67.1.
• Regan Schumacher ranks 70th in the country with 122 rebounds and 91st with 8.7 rebounds per game.

Off to a Hot Start
                NDSU's 8-2 start was the best 10-game start against NCAA Division I opponents in school history. It marked the fourth time since 2000 that NDSU had eight victories in the first 10 games and the second in the NCAA Division I era.
 
Dietz Close to Milestone
                Last week against Kansas City, Emily Dietz became the 51st player in school history to surpass 800 career points. With eight more rebounds, Dietz would have 500 boards for her career. She would be the 31st player in school history, and fifth during the NCAA Division I era, to surpass 800 points and 500 rebounds in a career. 
 
Individual Offensive Ratings
                According to HerHoopStats.com, the Bison have three players with an individual offensive rating over 110. An advanced statistic by Dean Oliver, individual offensive rating estimates the number of points produced by a player per 100 total individual possessions. Emily Dietz leads the team with a 118.6, ranking 157th in the country. Last year, Dietz finished the season ranked 839th with a 100.5. Michelle Gaislerova (112.9) and Emily Behnke (112.3) are in the 90th percentile among NCAA Division I players.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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 43 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 Oral Roberts
                Oral Roberts got a record-setting performance from Keni Jo Lippe Feb. 9, as the Golden Eagles defeated the North Dakota State women's basketball team 80-76 in overtime in front of 1,242 fans at the Scheels Center.
                Lippe set a Bison Sports Arena/Scheels Center record with 46 points, while also breaking a Summit League record for points scored in a game. Her 46 points were the most points scored in an NCAA Division I women's basketball game last season at the time.
                NDSU dropped to 7-16 overall and 4-7 in Summit League play with the loss. Oral Roberts earned the season sweep of the Bison, as they improved to 11-13 overall and 6-5 in league play. It was the 12th-straight victory over NDSU for Oral Roberts.
                The Bison were 27-of-69 (39.1%) from the field and 10-of-21 (47.6%) from 3-point range. Oral Roberts was 29-of-64 (45.3%) from the floor and 5-of-17 (29.4%) from downtown. NDSU was 12-of-14 (85.7%) at the free throw line, while Oral Roberts was 17-of-24 (70.8%) at the charity stripe. The Golden Eagles had a 38-28 advantage in the paint and 12-0 in fast break points, while NDSU had a 19-0 advantage in bench points.
                Rylee Nudell recorded her fifth career double-double, tying a career-high with 22 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. It was the third career game with over 20 points for Nudell. Ryan Cobbins had 15 points for her eighth-straight game in double figures, while Sofija Zivaljevic and Michelle Gaislerova each had 12 points. Danneka Voegeli had seven rebounds, while Zivaljevic dished out six assists.
                Neither team led by more than six points, with Oral Roberts' largest lead coming at 52-46 with 4:07 to play in the third quarter following an 8-2 run. The Golden Eagles took a 64-60 lead with 3:01 to play on a 3-pointer by Rylie Torrey, but NDSU answered with six-straight points to take a 66-64 lead with 1:19 left in regulation. A pair of free throws by Montserrat Brotons with 1:02 to play in regulation tied the game. NDSU had the ball with :26.4 to play, but failed to get a shot off. Cobbins and Nudell scored NDSU's first eight points of overtime, taking a 74-70 lead with 3:03 to play on an and-one from Nudell. The Golden Eagles responded with a 10-2 run to close overtime after the Nudell free throw.
 
Last Time Out
                A late 7-0 run by the North Dakota State women's basketball team sealed the win over Kansas City Saturday afternoon, as the Bison beat the Roos 68-65 at the Swinney Center.
                The victory moved the Bison to 12-4 overall and 7-3 in Summit League play. NDSU locked up the first winning season since 2009-10 and now have the most wins since the 2010-11 season. The Bison are now 6-0 on the second day of weekend series with the victory. The Roos dropped to 7-8 overall and 4-5 in league play.
                Ryan Cobbins led the Bison with a season-high 18 points, the 25th career game in double figures for Cobbins. Heaven Hamling and Emily Dietz joined Cobbins in double figures with 15 and 11 points respectively. Cobbins had six rebounds and two assists, while tying a season-high with three steals. Dietz tied a season-high with a pair of blocked shots, marking the 25th time in her career that she has led NDSU in blocks. Ravon Nero led the Roos with a game-high 28 points.
                NDSU was 22-of-42 (52.4%) from the field and 3-of-9 from 3-point range, while Kansas City was 21-of-53 (39.6%) from the floor and 9-of-19 (47.4%) from downtown. The Bison were 21-of-25 (84%) at the free throw line, while Kansas City was 14-of-16 (87.5%) at the charity stripe. Kansas City had a 22-13 advantage in points off turnovers, while also leading for 27:32 of the game.
                The Roos scored the final five points of the first quarter for an 18-14 lead and used a 9-2 run in the second quarter to take a 27-20 lead with 3:33 left in the half. Kansas City led by nine before Hamling hit a deep 3-pointer at the buzzer, leaving the Roos with a 35-29 lead at the break. Kansas City led by as much as 11 in the third quarter, but the Bison used a late 8-3 run to cut the lead to 53-50 going into the fourth quarter. The Roos led 62-61 with 3:06 to play, but a layup by Dietz with 1:57 left started a 7-0 run that gave NDSU the lead for good.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
On The Horizon
                The Bison will have the bye in league play next week, but return to action on Feb. 19 for the first of two games against South Dakota State. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. both Feb. 19 and Feb. 20 at the Scheels Center in Fargo. The games will be the first game in a doubleheader with the NDSU men each night.