Thursday, January 18
Denver, Colo.
7 p.m. CT
North Dakota State
at
Denver
Photo by: Zachary Lucy
NDSU Women’s Basketball Prepared for Road Test at Denver and Oral Roberts
1/17/2024 8:33:00 AM | Women's Basketball
THIS WEEK
The North Dakota State (9-7, 3-0 Summit) women's basketball team looks to extend its three-game win streak at Denver (4-12, 1-2 Summit) on Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. CT. The Bison will conclude the trip at Oral Roberts (12-5, 3-1 Summit) on Saturday at 12:00 p.m.
GAME COVERAGE
Watch: Both games will be available on the Summit League Network for subscribers.
Radio: Andy Rieckhoff (play-by-play) will be on the call on Bison 1660 for both games.
GoBison.com: Live statistics, audio and video links are available on GoBison.com.
BISON QUICK HITS
Five Bison reached double figures in scoring as NDSU earned its third straight win after topping Omaha, 87-69, on Saturday at Scheels Center. Elle Evans led the way for the Bison with a team-best 17 points to go along with a game-high five assists and three rebounds. Heaven Hamling added in 16 points with six rebounds and three assists, while Abby Graham chipped in 12 points with a career-high seven rebounds off the bench. Abbie Draper contributed 11 points with eight rebounds and Abby Krzewinski netted 10 points to round out the top performers.
THE SERIES VS. DENVER
This will be the 28th all-time meeting between NDSU and Denver dating back to 1987 with the Bison leading the series, 14-13. NDSU has dropped each of the last five matchups at Denver and is 2-9 all-time when facing the Pioneers on the road. In their most recent meeting last season, NDSU came up short at Denver, 83-71. Heaven Hamling paced the Bison with 14 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
THE SERIES VS. ORAL ROBERTS
This will be the 31st all-time meeting between NDSU and Oral Roberts dating back to 2006 with the Golden Eagles leading the series, 21-9. NDSU has dropped each of the last 11 matchups in Tulsa and is 1-13 all-time when facing the Golden Eagles on the road. In their most recent meeting last season, NDSU rolled past Oral Roberts, 103-86, after Heaven Hamling netted a game-high 29 points and passed out a team-best six assists.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Bison are off to a 7-0 start in Scheels Center for the second straight season after beginning last season with nine straight wins. Over the last two seasons, NDSU is 18-1 at home and has won each of its last nine games dating back to last season. The Bison have scored 85 or more points in seven games over that stretch, including two 100-point performances.
THAT'S THREE STRAIGHT
The Bison are off to a 3-0 start in Summit League play for the second straight season. A win at Denver would be the first 4-0 start for NDSU in Summit League play since the 2009-10 season. Over the last three games, Heaven Hamling is averaging a team-best 14.1 points with 4.5 rebounds per game.
GOT THE THREE LOCKED IN
The Bison have found their rhythm from beyond the arc after notching a season-high 13 triples against Eastern Michigan and Mayville State. That mark is tied for the eighth-most in Bison history. NDSU ranks fourth in the Summit League shooting 33.6 percent from beyond the arc.
YOUNG BISON PRODUCING
All four true freshmen on the roster have seen action in at least 12 games this season and average at least seven minutes per game. Abby Krzewinski, who has started each of the last 13 games, leads the freshmen group with 7.6 points over 21.5 minutes per game.
AMONG THE TOP THREE
Through the first 16 games, Heaven Hamling and Elle Evans both rank in the top three in multiple categories in the Summit League. Hamling leads the conference in three-pointers (1st, 38) and three-pointers per game (1st, 2.38). She's also slotted second in steals (31) and three-point percentage (38.4), while ranked third in steals per game (1.94). Evans is leading the Summit League in three-point percentage (38.8), while positioned third in blocks per game (1.13) and three-pointers per game (2.06).
MOVING UP THE ALL-TIME SCORING LIST
Heaven Hamling has begun her ascent of the NDSU all-time scoring list and has surpassed 1,400 career points with 1,444, joining Katie Birkel (2008-13) as the only players in the NDSU Division I era to surpass the mark. Hamling is eight points away from passing Birkel for the top spot in the NDSU Division I era after Birkel netted 1,451 points over four seasons from 2008-13. Hamling currently ranks 10th on the Bison all-time scoring list with 1,444 points.
THE THREE-POINT CHASE IS ON
Heaven Hamling has connected on a team-best 38 three-pointers and pushed her career total at NDSU to 237 over four seasons, which ranks second all-time in Bison history. Hamling is 42 triples away from passing Taylor Thunstedt (2014-18) for the top spot with 279. Thunstedt connected on 278 triples over four seasons from 2014-18.
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 earned their first win over a team ranked in the poll since 2020 after downing then-ranked No. 21 South Dakota earlier this season.
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 used five different starting five combinations this season. Miriley Simon was the most recent addition to the lineup after she made her first career start in the win over South Dakota. The West Fargo, N.D., native notched seven points over 21 minutes of action.
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 two seniors: Heaven Hamling 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 four newcomers to the roster this season: Taryn Hamling, Avery Koenen, Miriley Simon and Abby Krzewinski.
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 263-123 overall record spanning 13 seasons. He notched a 199-58 mark during eight seasons at Emporia State. Collins has posted a 64-65 mark at NDSU over his first four seasons. His 64 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 points (10th, 1444), scoring average (6th, 14.6), three-point field goals made (2nd, 237), three-point field goal percentage (3rd, .381), free throw percentage (3rd, .854), defensive rebounds (9th, 366), defensive rebounding average (9th, 3.7), games started (9th, 98) and minutes average (4th, 32.2).
Hamling has also surpassed the 1,600 career points scoring mark with 1,618. She started her career at Stephen F. Austin State for one season in 2018-19 and netted 174 points. Hamling has totaled 1,444 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 277 three-pointers, which ranks tied for 13th in the nation. Caitlin Clark (Iowa) leads the country with 438 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-17 from three against Central Michigan on Dec. 20 and ended a streak of 61 straight games that the Bison have netted at least two triples. The Bison have bounced back hitting at least two triples in each of the last five 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 479-142 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 return home hosting St. Thomas on Thursday, Jan. 25. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m., at Scheels Center.
The North Dakota State (9-7, 3-0 Summit) women's basketball team looks to extend its three-game win streak at Denver (4-12, 1-2 Summit) on Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. CT. The Bison will conclude the trip at Oral Roberts (12-5, 3-1 Summit) on Saturday at 12:00 p.m.
GAME COVERAGE
Watch: Both games will be available on the Summit League Network for subscribers.
Radio: Andy Rieckhoff (play-by-play) will be on the call on Bison 1660 for both games.
GoBison.com: Live statistics, audio and video links are available on GoBison.com.
BISON QUICK HITS
- NDSU begins the week on a season-best three-game win streak and has won five of its last six games. The Bison most recently topped Omaha, 87-69, on Saturday in Fargo.
- The Bison improved to 3-0 in Summit League play and will look to stretch that mark to 4-0 on Thursday night. It would be the first time since the 2009-10 season that the Bison started conference play 4-0.
- Denver enters the week on a four-game losing streak and most recently fell short against South Dakota State, 68-50, in Brookings.
- Oral Roberts saw its six-game win streak snapped at St. Thomas on Saturday after falling 73-72 after the Tommies hit a three-pointer with 0.1 seconds to play. The Golden Eagles are 8-0 at Mabee Center this season.
- Heaven Hamling has totaled 237 three-pointers over four seasons and moved into second place on the all-time NDSU list. She's 42 triples away from passing Taylor Thunstedt (2014-18) for the top spot in NDSU history with 279.
- Heaven Hamling is one of only two players in NDSU Division I history to surpass 1,400 career points with 1,444 , joining Katie Birkel (2008-13).
- 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.
Five Bison reached double figures in scoring as NDSU earned its third straight win after topping Omaha, 87-69, on Saturday at Scheels Center. Elle Evans led the way for the Bison with a team-best 17 points to go along with a game-high five assists and three rebounds. Heaven Hamling added in 16 points with six rebounds and three assists, while Abby Graham chipped in 12 points with a career-high seven rebounds off the bench. Abbie Draper contributed 11 points with eight rebounds and Abby Krzewinski netted 10 points to round out the top performers.
THE SERIES VS. DENVER
This will be the 28th all-time meeting between NDSU and Denver dating back to 1987 with the Bison leading the series, 14-13. NDSU has dropped each of the last five matchups at Denver and is 2-9 all-time when facing the Pioneers on the road. In their most recent meeting last season, NDSU came up short at Denver, 83-71. Heaven Hamling paced the Bison with 14 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
THE SERIES VS. ORAL ROBERTS
This will be the 31st all-time meeting between NDSU and Oral Roberts dating back to 2006 with the Golden Eagles leading the series, 21-9. NDSU has dropped each of the last 11 matchups in Tulsa and is 1-13 all-time when facing the Golden Eagles on the road. In their most recent meeting last season, NDSU rolled past Oral Roberts, 103-86, after Heaven Hamling netted a game-high 29 points and passed out a team-best six assists.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Bison are off to a 7-0 start in Scheels Center for the second straight season after beginning last season with nine straight wins. Over the last two seasons, NDSU is 18-1 at home and has won each of its last nine games dating back to last season. The Bison have scored 85 or more points in seven games over that stretch, including two 100-point performances.
THAT'S THREE STRAIGHT
The Bison are off to a 3-0 start in Summit League play for the second straight season. A win at Denver would be the first 4-0 start for NDSU in Summit League play since the 2009-10 season. Over the last three games, Heaven Hamling is averaging a team-best 14.1 points with 4.5 rebounds per game.
GOT THE THREE LOCKED IN
The Bison have found their rhythm from beyond the arc after notching a season-high 13 triples against Eastern Michigan and Mayville State. That mark is tied for the eighth-most in Bison history. NDSU ranks fourth in the Summit League shooting 33.6 percent from beyond the arc.
YOUNG BISON PRODUCING
All four true freshmen on the roster have seen action in at least 12 games this season and average at least seven minutes per game. Abby Krzewinski, who has started each of the last 13 games, leads the freshmen group with 7.6 points over 21.5 minutes per game.
AMONG THE TOP THREE
Through the first 16 games, Heaven Hamling and Elle Evans both rank in the top three in multiple categories in the Summit League. Hamling leads the conference in three-pointers (1st, 38) and three-pointers per game (1st, 2.38). She's also slotted second in steals (31) and three-point percentage (38.4), while ranked third in steals per game (1.94). Evans is leading the Summit League in three-point percentage (38.8), while positioned third in blocks per game (1.13) and three-pointers per game (2.06).
MOVING UP THE ALL-TIME SCORING LIST
Heaven Hamling has begun her ascent of the NDSU all-time scoring list and has surpassed 1,400 career points with 1,444, joining Katie Birkel (2008-13) as the only players in the NDSU Division I era to surpass the mark. Hamling is eight points away from passing Birkel for the top spot in the NDSU Division I era after Birkel netted 1,451 points over four seasons from 2008-13. Hamling currently ranks 10th on the Bison all-time scoring list with 1,444 points.
THE THREE-POINT CHASE IS ON
Heaven Hamling has connected on a team-best 38 three-pointers and pushed her career total at NDSU to 237 over four seasons, which ranks second all-time in Bison history. Hamling is 42 triples away from passing Taylor Thunstedt (2014-18) for the top spot with 279. Thunstedt connected on 278 triples over four seasons from 2014-18.
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 earned their first win over a team ranked in the poll since 2020 after downing then-ranked No. 21 South Dakota earlier this season.
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 used five different starting five combinations this season. Miriley Simon was the most recent addition to the lineup after she made her first career start in the win over South Dakota. The West Fargo, N.D., native notched seven points over 21 minutes of action.
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 two seniors: Heaven Hamling 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 four newcomers to the roster this season: Taryn Hamling, Avery Koenen, Miriley Simon and Abby Krzewinski.
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 263-123 overall record spanning 13 seasons. He notched a 199-58 mark during eight seasons at Emporia State. Collins has posted a 64-65 mark at NDSU over his first four seasons. His 64 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 points (10th, 1444), scoring average (6th, 14.6), three-point field goals made (2nd, 237), three-point field goal percentage (3rd, .381), free throw percentage (3rd, .854), defensive rebounds (9th, 366), defensive rebounding average (9th, 3.7), games started (9th, 98) and minutes average (4th, 32.2).
Hamling has also surpassed the 1,600 career points scoring mark with 1,618. She started her career at Stephen F. Austin State for one season in 2018-19 and netted 174 points. Hamling has totaled 1,444 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 277 three-pointers, which ranks tied for 13th in the nation. Caitlin Clark (Iowa) leads the country with 438 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-17 from three against Central Michigan on Dec. 20 and ended a streak of 61 straight games that the Bison have netted at least two triples. The Bison have bounced back hitting at least two triples in each of the last five 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 479-142 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 return home hosting St. Thomas on Thursday, Jan. 25. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m., at Scheels Center.
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