Friday, December 1
Fargo, N.D.
7 p.m.
North Dakota State
vs
Eastern Michigan
Photo by: Zachary Lucy
NDSU Women’s Basketball Returns Home Against Eastern Michigan and Mayville State
11/29/2023 3:18:00 PM | Women's Basketball
THIS WEEK
The North Dakota State (2-4) women's basketball team returns home this week hosting Eastern Michigan (1-3) on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. The Bison will also host Mayville State (7-2) on Sunday. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m., at Scheels Center.
GAME COVERAGE
Watch: Both contests be available on WDAY Xtra and the Summit League Network.
Radio: Andy Rieckhoff (play-by-play) will be on the call for both games on Bison 1660.
GoBison.com: Live statistics, audio and video links are available on GoBison.com.
BISON QUICK HITS
NDSU fell short against Toledo, 73-58, on Saturday at the San Diego Classic after the Rockets outscored the Bison, 49-28, in the second half. Elle Evans led the way for NDSU with 15 points, six rebounds, three steals, two blocks and two assists. Heaven Hamling added in 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting from three with three rebounds and two assists.
THE SERIES VS. EASTERN MICHIGAN
This will be only the second all-time meeting between NDSU and Eastern Michigan with the Eagles leading the series, 1-0. In their only encounter last season, the Eagles outscored the Bison, 26-12, in the fourth quarter to secure a 73-55 win in Ypsilanti, Mich. Elle Evans paced NDSU with a team-high 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting from three with seven rebounds.
Eastern Michigan is one of three Mid-American Conference opponents the Bison will play this season after facing Toledo and Central Michigan on Dec. 20. NDSU is 2-12 all-time against MAC opponents.
THE SERIES VS. MAYVILLE STATE
This will mark the 28th all-time meeting between NDSU and Mayville State dating back to 1967 with the Bison leading the series, 27-0. The two teams were scheduled to face each other last season before winter weather forced the contest to be cancelled. In their most recent encounter in 2019, NDSU rolled past Mayville State, 97-59, after outscoring the Comets, 38-7, in the third quarter.
DRAPER IS FINDING HER STRIDE
Abbie Draper has found her stride reaching double digits in scoring in each of the last three games. Over that stretch, she's averaging a team-best 15.3 points per game and is shooting a team-high 62.5 percent (20-32) from the field. The Waverly, Iowa native netted a career-high 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting in the 67-60 win over Northern Colorado.
THE THREE-POINT CHASE IS ON
After connecting on four triples against Toledo, Heaven Hamling pushed her career three-point total at NDSU to 212 over four seasons and passed Michelle Gaislerova (2017-21) for second place on the Bison all-time three-pointers list. Hamling is 67 triples away from passing Taylor Thunstedt (2014-18) for the top spot in NDSU history with 279. Thunstedt connected on 278 triples over four seasons from 2014-18.
WE'RE FINALLY HOME
NDSU is set to play only its second home game of the season against Eastern Michigan on Friday. The Bison spent the first month of the season playing five of six games away from home. NDSU participated in contests across four different states over that span after traveling to South Dakota, Minnesota, Colorado and California. The Bison played their lone home game in the month of November picking up a 112-59 win over Jamestown on Nov. 9.
COLLEGE INSIDER MID-MAJOR TOP 25 POLL
NDSU debuted at No. 24 in the College Insider Mid-Major Preseason Top 25 Poll earlier this season after climbing as high as No. 19 last year. The Bison have faced two teams ranked in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 Poll this season after playing against then-ranked No. 22 Harvard on Nov. 24 and then-ranked No. 6 Toledo on Nov. 25.
HIGH SCORING HOME OPENER
NDSU rolled past Jamestown in its home opener at Scheels Center, 112-59, with all 13 players on the roster reaching the scoring column. It ranks tied as the third-most points in NDSU history and is the most scored under head coach Jory Collins over the last five seasons.
THE STARTING FIVE
NDSU has shuffled up the starting five in three of the first six games this season. Abby Krzewinski made her first career start with 10 points in the win over Northern Colorado and has been in the lineup each of the last three games. Kristina Ekofo Yomane also started against Minnesota, while Marwa Bedziri opened the season with starts against Creighton and Jamestown. Abbie Draper, Heaven Hamling, Abby Schulte and Elle Evans are the only Bison to start all six games this season.
SUMMIT LEAGUE PRESEASON POLL
NDSU was selected second in the Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Bison garnered 526 total points and five first-place votes to earn their highest ranking in the preseason poll since joining the Summit League in 2007-08. South Dakota State was picked first with 577 points and 27 first-place votes. South Dakota closed out the top three in third place with 485 points and two first-place votes.
PRESEASON ALL-SUMMIT LEAGUE FIRST TEAM
Heaven Hamling and Elle Evans were also both selected to the Preseason All-Summit League First Team making NDSU the only team in the Summit League to have multiple first team selections. Hamling, who was named to the All-Summit League First Team last season, ranked fourth in scoring in the conference in 2022-23 after averaging a team-best 16.5 points per game. Evans, who was named the Summit League Freshman of the Year last season, averaged 13.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in her freshman season.
LOOKING BACK AT LAST SEASON
NDSU put together one of the most successful seasons in the Division I era last season after posting its most wins since 2004-05 with an 18-12 overall record and advancing to the WNIT for the first time in program history. The Bison also notched a 12-6 mark in Summit League play and finished in second place in the conference.
PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE IN THE LINEUP
The Bison return six players this season, including three seniors: Heaven Hamling, Kristina Ekofo Yomane and Abby Schulte. Hamling and Schulte provide the most experience in the lineup combining for 155 career starts entering the season. Hamling has started a team-high 83 games (includes one start at Stephen F. Austin State) over four seasons, while Schulte has started 72 games over three seasons at NDSU.
WELCOME TO THE SQUAD
The roster features five newcomers to the roster this season: Taryn Hamling, Avery Koenen, Miriley Simon, Abby Krzewinski and Grace Massaquoi.
TWICE THE HAMLING FUN
Heaven Hamling is joined by her sister, Taryn Hamling, on the roster this season. The two were briefly teammates at Grand Rapids High School in basketball when Heaven Hamling was in her senior season and Taryn Hamling was in seventh grade. The duo also played tennis together with Heaven Hamling on varsity and Taryn Hamling on junior varsity.
GEISSERT ELEVATED
Dylan Geissert was elevated to associate head coach over the offseason. He has spent the last four seasons with the Bison as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. Prior to joining NDSU in 2019, Geissert was a graduate student manager at the University of Kansas from 2017-19. He got his start in coaching as a male practice player for the Emporia State women's basketball program and served as a student assistant under current NDSU head coach Jory Collins for three seasons.
250 CAREER WINS
Following the victory over South Dakota on Feb. 2, 2023, head coach Jory Collins earned his 250th career win. He has currently amassed a 256-120 overall record spanning 13 seasons. He notched a 199-58 mark during eight seasons at Emporia State. Collins has posted a 57-62 mark at NDSU over his first four seasons. His 57 wins at NDSU rank third all-time in Bison history behind Amy Ruley (671 wins) and Carolyn DeHoff (72 wins).
HEAVEN DOING HEAVEN THINGS
Heaven Hamling enters the 2023-24 season with the chance to leave her mark in NDSU history and currently ranks in the top 10 in scoring average (6th, 14.4), three-point field goals made (2nd, 212), three-point field goal percentage (3rd, .381), free throw percentage (4th, .856), defensive rebounding average (7th, 3.8), assists average (T-9th, 3.0) and minutes average (4th, 32.4).
Hamling has also surpassed the 1,000 career scoring mark with 1,460. She started her career at Stephen F. Austin State for one season in 2018-19 and netted 174 points. Hamling has totaled 1,286 points over the last four seasons at NDSU.
Among active players in NCAA Division I women's basketball and including one season at Stephen F. Austin State, Hamling has drained 252 three-pointers, which ranks 16th in the nation. Caitlin Clark (Iowa) leads the country with 382 career triples.
HISTORIC FRESHMAN SEASON
Elle Evans wasted no time making an impact in her freshman season after becoming the first player in program history to be named the Summit League Freshman of the Year. The Edwardsville, Ill., native was also the first player to earn Summit League All-Defensive Team honors in program history.
Evans ranked fifth in the Summit League shooting 43.8 percent from the field and averaged 13.4 points with 4.9 rebounds per game. She reached double digits in scoring in 26 of 30 games, including 14 straight to close the season. She was also a force on the defensive side of the floor and ranked second in the Summit League with a team-high 42 blocks.
BALL MOVEMENT
Heaven Hamling and Abby Schulte both reached the 100-assist mark last season and it marked the first time since the 2003-04 season that NDSU had two different players record 100 or more assists in a single-season. Hamling passed out the most assists by a Bison player since 2018 with a career-high 112, while Schulte handed out a career-best 103 assists of her own.
STARTING A NEW 3-POINT STREAK
NDSU shot 1-of-9 from three at Kansas State on Nov. 29, 2021, which ended a streak of 56 straight games that the Bison have netted at least two triples. The Bison have bounced back and have connected at least two triples in each of their last 57 games.
NDSU has a recent history of assembling lengthy three-point streaks. The Bison went 0-of-14 from three-point range against Valparaiso on Nov. 15, 2019, ending a streak of 113 straight games with at least two 3-pointers.
THIS IS OUR HOUSE
NDSU is 473-142 all-time at home dating back to 1977-78. NDSU finished last season with an 11-1 mark at Scheels Center after starting the season 9-0. It marked the most home wins since 2009-10.
UP NEXT
NDSU will travel to Drake on Friday, Dec. 8. Tip-off is set for 11:00 a.m., in Des Moines, Iowa.
The North Dakota State (2-4) women's basketball team returns home this week hosting Eastern Michigan (1-3) on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. The Bison will also host Mayville State (7-2) on Sunday. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m., at Scheels Center.
GAME COVERAGE
Watch: Both contests be available on WDAY Xtra and the Summit League Network.
Radio: Andy Rieckhoff (play-by-play) will be on the call for both games on Bison 1660.
GoBison.com: Live statistics, audio and video links are available on GoBison.com.
BISON QUICK HITS
- NDSU enters the week having dropped each of its last two games and has a 2-4 overall record.
- The Bison return home for only the second time this season hosting Eastern Michigan on Friday and Mayville State on Sunday.
- This will be the first trip to Fargo for Eastern Michigan and only the second ever meeting in the series after the Eagles edged the Bison last year, 73-55, in Ypsilanti, Mich.
- Eastern Michigan is one of three Mid-American Conference opponents NDSU will face this season. The Bison played against Toledo on Nov. 25 and will host Central Michigan on Dec. 20.
- NDSU will face Mayville State for the first time since 2019 and leads the all-time series, 27-0.
- Heaven Hamling has totaled 212 three-pointers over four seasons and moved into second place on the all-time NDSU list. She's 67 triples away from passing Taylor Thunstedt (2014-18) for the top spot in NDSU history with 279.
- Elle Evans saw her 17-game double digit scoring streak snapped after netting eight points at Northern Colorado. She has reached double digits in five of the first six games this season and finished her freshmen season with 14 straight double figure scoring efforts.
- NDSU posted its most wins in a single-season since 2004-05 with an 18-12 (12-6 Summit) overall record and advanced to the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) for the first time in program history last season.
- NDSU enters the season picked second in the Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll, which is the highest ranking since joining the conference in 2007-08.
- Heaven Hamling and Elle Evans were also both selected to the Preseason All-Summit League First Team making NDSU the only team in the conference to have multiple first team selections.
NDSU fell short against Toledo, 73-58, on Saturday at the San Diego Classic after the Rockets outscored the Bison, 49-28, in the second half. Elle Evans led the way for NDSU with 15 points, six rebounds, three steals, two blocks and two assists. Heaven Hamling added in 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting from three with three rebounds and two assists.
THE SERIES VS. EASTERN MICHIGAN
This will be only the second all-time meeting between NDSU and Eastern Michigan with the Eagles leading the series, 1-0. In their only encounter last season, the Eagles outscored the Bison, 26-12, in the fourth quarter to secure a 73-55 win in Ypsilanti, Mich. Elle Evans paced NDSU with a team-high 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting from three with seven rebounds.
Eastern Michigan is one of three Mid-American Conference opponents the Bison will play this season after facing Toledo and Central Michigan on Dec. 20. NDSU is 2-12 all-time against MAC opponents.
THE SERIES VS. MAYVILLE STATE
This will mark the 28th all-time meeting between NDSU and Mayville State dating back to 1967 with the Bison leading the series, 27-0. The two teams were scheduled to face each other last season before winter weather forced the contest to be cancelled. In their most recent encounter in 2019, NDSU rolled past Mayville State, 97-59, after outscoring the Comets, 38-7, in the third quarter.
DRAPER IS FINDING HER STRIDE
Abbie Draper has found her stride reaching double digits in scoring in each of the last three games. Over that stretch, she's averaging a team-best 15.3 points per game and is shooting a team-high 62.5 percent (20-32) from the field. The Waverly, Iowa native netted a career-high 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting in the 67-60 win over Northern Colorado.
THE THREE-POINT CHASE IS ON
After connecting on four triples against Toledo, Heaven Hamling pushed her career three-point total at NDSU to 212 over four seasons and passed Michelle Gaislerova (2017-21) for second place on the Bison all-time three-pointers list. Hamling is 67 triples away from passing Taylor Thunstedt (2014-18) for the top spot in NDSU history with 279. Thunstedt connected on 278 triples over four seasons from 2014-18.
WE'RE FINALLY HOME
NDSU is set to play only its second home game of the season against Eastern Michigan on Friday. The Bison spent the first month of the season playing five of six games away from home. NDSU participated in contests across four different states over that span after traveling to South Dakota, Minnesota, Colorado and California. The Bison played their lone home game in the month of November picking up a 112-59 win over Jamestown on Nov. 9.
COLLEGE INSIDER MID-MAJOR TOP 25 POLL
NDSU debuted at No. 24 in the College Insider Mid-Major Preseason Top 25 Poll earlier this season after climbing as high as No. 19 last year. The Bison have faced two teams ranked in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 Poll this season after playing against then-ranked No. 22 Harvard on Nov. 24 and then-ranked No. 6 Toledo on Nov. 25.
HIGH SCORING HOME OPENER
NDSU rolled past Jamestown in its home opener at Scheels Center, 112-59, with all 13 players on the roster reaching the scoring column. It ranks tied as the third-most points in NDSU history and is the most scored under head coach Jory Collins over the last five seasons.
THE STARTING FIVE
NDSU has shuffled up the starting five in three of the first six games this season. Abby Krzewinski made her first career start with 10 points in the win over Northern Colorado and has been in the lineup each of the last three games. Kristina Ekofo Yomane also started against Minnesota, while Marwa Bedziri opened the season with starts against Creighton and Jamestown. Abbie Draper, Heaven Hamling, Abby Schulte and Elle Evans are the only Bison to start all six games this season.
SUMMIT LEAGUE PRESEASON POLL
NDSU was selected second in the Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Bison garnered 526 total points and five first-place votes to earn their highest ranking in the preseason poll since joining the Summit League in 2007-08. South Dakota State was picked first with 577 points and 27 first-place votes. South Dakota closed out the top three in third place with 485 points and two first-place votes.
PRESEASON ALL-SUMMIT LEAGUE FIRST TEAM
Heaven Hamling and Elle Evans were also both selected to the Preseason All-Summit League First Team making NDSU the only team in the Summit League to have multiple first team selections. Hamling, who was named to the All-Summit League First Team last season, ranked fourth in scoring in the conference in 2022-23 after averaging a team-best 16.5 points per game. Evans, who was named the Summit League Freshman of the Year last season, averaged 13.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in her freshman season.
LOOKING BACK AT LAST SEASON
NDSU put together one of the most successful seasons in the Division I era last season after posting its most wins since 2004-05 with an 18-12 overall record and advancing to the WNIT for the first time in program history. The Bison also notched a 12-6 mark in Summit League play and finished in second place in the conference.
PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE IN THE LINEUP
The Bison return six players this season, including three seniors: Heaven Hamling, Kristina Ekofo Yomane and Abby Schulte. Hamling and Schulte provide the most experience in the lineup combining for 155 career starts entering the season. Hamling has started a team-high 83 games (includes one start at Stephen F. Austin State) over four seasons, while Schulte has started 72 games over three seasons at NDSU.
WELCOME TO THE SQUAD
The roster features five newcomers to the roster this season: Taryn Hamling, Avery Koenen, Miriley Simon, Abby Krzewinski and Grace Massaquoi.
TWICE THE HAMLING FUN
Heaven Hamling is joined by her sister, Taryn Hamling, on the roster this season. The two were briefly teammates at Grand Rapids High School in basketball when Heaven Hamling was in her senior season and Taryn Hamling was in seventh grade. The duo also played tennis together with Heaven Hamling on varsity and Taryn Hamling on junior varsity.
GEISSERT ELEVATED
Dylan Geissert was elevated to associate head coach over the offseason. He has spent the last four seasons with the Bison as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. Prior to joining NDSU in 2019, Geissert was a graduate student manager at the University of Kansas from 2017-19. He got his start in coaching as a male practice player for the Emporia State women's basketball program and served as a student assistant under current NDSU head coach Jory Collins for three seasons.
250 CAREER WINS
Following the victory over South Dakota on Feb. 2, 2023, head coach Jory Collins earned his 250th career win. He has currently amassed a 256-120 overall record spanning 13 seasons. He notched a 199-58 mark during eight seasons at Emporia State. Collins has posted a 57-62 mark at NDSU over his first four seasons. His 57 wins at NDSU rank third all-time in Bison history behind Amy Ruley (671 wins) and Carolyn DeHoff (72 wins).
HEAVEN DOING HEAVEN THINGS
Heaven Hamling enters the 2023-24 season with the chance to leave her mark in NDSU history and currently ranks in the top 10 in scoring average (6th, 14.4), three-point field goals made (2nd, 212), three-point field goal percentage (3rd, .381), free throw percentage (4th, .856), defensive rebounding average (7th, 3.8), assists average (T-9th, 3.0) and minutes average (4th, 32.4).
Hamling has also surpassed the 1,000 career scoring mark with 1,460. She started her career at Stephen F. Austin State for one season in 2018-19 and netted 174 points. Hamling has totaled 1,286 points over the last four seasons at NDSU.
Among active players in NCAA Division I women's basketball and including one season at Stephen F. Austin State, Hamling has drained 252 three-pointers, which ranks 16th in the nation. Caitlin Clark (Iowa) leads the country with 382 career triples.
HISTORIC FRESHMAN SEASON
Elle Evans wasted no time making an impact in her freshman season after becoming the first player in program history to be named the Summit League Freshman of the Year. The Edwardsville, Ill., native was also the first player to earn Summit League All-Defensive Team honors in program history.
Evans ranked fifth in the Summit League shooting 43.8 percent from the field and averaged 13.4 points with 4.9 rebounds per game. She reached double digits in scoring in 26 of 30 games, including 14 straight to close the season. She was also a force on the defensive side of the floor and ranked second in the Summit League with a team-high 42 blocks.
BALL MOVEMENT
Heaven Hamling and Abby Schulte both reached the 100-assist mark last season and it marked the first time since the 2003-04 season that NDSU had two different players record 100 or more assists in a single-season. Hamling passed out the most assists by a Bison player since 2018 with a career-high 112, while Schulte handed out a career-best 103 assists of her own.
STARTING A NEW 3-POINT STREAK
NDSU shot 1-of-9 from three at Kansas State on Nov. 29, 2021, which ended a streak of 56 straight games that the Bison have netted at least two triples. The Bison have bounced back and have connected at least two triples in each of their last 57 games.
NDSU has a recent history of assembling lengthy three-point streaks. The Bison went 0-of-14 from three-point range against Valparaiso on Nov. 15, 2019, ending a streak of 113 straight games with at least two 3-pointers.
THIS IS OUR HOUSE
NDSU is 473-142 all-time at home dating back to 1977-78. NDSU finished last season with an 11-1 mark at Scheels Center after starting the season 9-0. It marked the most home wins since 2009-10.
UP NEXT
NDSU will travel to Drake on Friday, Dec. 8. Tip-off is set for 11:00 a.m., in Des Moines, Iowa.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's BasketballSunday, March 22
Friday, March 20
Thursday, March 12
Thursday, March 05
