Thursday, January 11
Fargo, N.D.
7 p.m.
North Dakota State
vs
Kansas City
Photo by: Zachary Lucy
NDSU Women’s Basketball Continues Homestand Against Kansas City and Omaha
1/9/2024 4:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball
THIS WEEK
The North Dakota State (7-7, 1-0 Summit) women's basketball team continues its homestand hosting Kansas City (9-8, 0-2 Summit) on Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. The Bison conclude the week hosting Omaha (4-11, 0-2 Summit) on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m., at Scheels Center.
GAME COVERAGE
Watch: Both games will be available on WDAY Xtra and 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.
PROMOTIONS
The Thursday night game will feature an NDSU stanley cup giveaway for the first 150 students, while Saturday will be Thundar's birthday and JBC & youth team day.
BISON QUICK HITS
Four Bison reached double figures in scoring as NDSU topped Northern Arizona, 99-73, in the Big Sky-Summit Challenge to wrap up non-conference play. Elle Evans led the way for the Bison with a career-high 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field and 4-of-6 from three. Heaven Hamling added in 19 points with six rebounds, while Abbie Draper chipped in 16 points of her own with six rebounds. Abby Schulte rounded out the group with a season-high 14 points to go along with five assists.
THE SERIES VS. KANSAS CITY
This will be the 23rd all-time meeting between NDSU and Kansas City dating back to 2008 with the Roos holding the slight edge, 12-10. In their most recent meeting last season, Kansas City topped NDSU, 71-64, in the quarterfinal round of the Summit League Tournament. Heaven Hamling paced the Bison with 16 points, five assists and four rebounds.
THE SERIES VS. OMAHA
This will be the 73rd all-time meeting between NDSU and Omaha dating back to 1980 with the Bison leading the series, 51-21. NDSU is 7-3 against Omaha in the last 10 matchups, but fell short in the most recent encounter, 63-58, in Omaha last season. Elle Evans led the way for the Bison notching her first career double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds.
THE THIRD QUARTER IS OURS
The Bison have won three of their last four games with the help of fast starts in the second half. NDSU has scored 30 or more points in two games over that span, including a season-high 38 in the win over Northern Arizona last week. The Bison are averaging 25.3 points per game in the third quarter and are outscoring opponents, 101-76, over the last four games.
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 third in the Summit League shooting 34.1 percent from beyond the arc.
YOUNG BISON PRODUCING
All four true freshmen on the roster have seen action in at least 11 games and average at least 7.0 minutes per game this season. The Bison have totaled 1,011 points as a team through the first 14 games with 27.4 percent (278 points) of that total coming from true freshmen. Abby Krzewinski, who has started each of the last 11 games, leads the freshmen group with 7.9 points over 21.5 minutes per game.
AMONG THE TOP FIVE
Through the first 14 games, Heaven Hamling and Elle Evans both rank in the top five in multiple categories in the Summit League. Hamling leads the conference in three-point percentage (1st, 40.0), three-pointers (1st, 34), and three-pointers per game (1st, 2.43). Evans ranks third in the league in blocks per game (1.14) and fourth in three-pointers per game (1.93).
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 1,412, joining Katie Birkel (2008-13) as the only players in the NDSU Division I era to surpass the mark. Hamling is 40 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 11th on the Bison all-time scoring list with 1,412 points.
THE THREE-POINT CHASE IS ON
Heaven Hamling has connected on a team-best 34 three-pointers and pushed her career total at NDSU to 233 over four seasons, which ranks second all-time in Bison history. Hamling is 46 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 261-123 overall record spanning 13 seasons. He notched a 199-58 mark during eight seasons at Emporia State. Collins has posted a 62-65 mark at NDSU over his first four seasons. His 62 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, 14.6), three-point field goals made (2nd, 233), three-point field goal percentage (3rd, .383), free throw percentage (3rd, .861), defensive rebounding average (T7th, 3.7), defensive rebounds (9th, 360), games started (10th, 96) and minutes average (4th, 32.2).
Hamling has also surpassed the 1,500 career points scoring mark with 1,586. She started her career at Stephen F. Austin State for one season in 2018-19 and netted 174 points. Hamling has totaled 1,412 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 273 three-pointers, which ranks 13th in the nation. Caitlin Clark (Iowa) leads the country with 426 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.
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 477-142 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.
NDSU has started this season winning each of its first five home games and has won seven straight dating back to last season. The Bison have scored 85 or more points in six games over that span, including two 100-point performances.
UP NEXT
NDSU will travel to Denver on Thursday, Jan. 18. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. CT
The North Dakota State (7-7, 1-0 Summit) women's basketball team continues its homestand hosting Kansas City (9-8, 0-2 Summit) on Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. The Bison conclude the week hosting Omaha (4-11, 0-2 Summit) on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m., at Scheels Center.
GAME COVERAGE
Watch: Both games will be available on WDAY Xtra and 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.
PROMOTIONS
The Thursday night game will feature an NDSU stanley cup giveaway for the first 150 students, while Saturday will be Thundar's birthday and JBC & youth team day.
BISON QUICK HITS
- NDSU enters the week having won three of its last four games and most recently rolled past Northern Arizona, 99-73.
- NDSU is 5-0 at Scheels Center this season and has won seven straight home games dating back to last season.
- Kansas City has notched a 9-8 (0-2 Summit) overall record and has won each of its last two games.
- Omaha begins the week having dropped each of its last four games and has registered a 4-11 (0-2 Summit) overall record.
- Heaven Hamling has totaled 233 three-pointers over four seasons and moved into second place on the all-time NDSU list. She's 46 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 1,412 , joining Katie Birkel (2008-13).
- The Bison enter the week leading the Summit League in free throw percentage shooting 74.1 percent.
- 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.
Four Bison reached double figures in scoring as NDSU topped Northern Arizona, 99-73, in the Big Sky-Summit Challenge to wrap up non-conference play. Elle Evans led the way for the Bison with a career-high 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field and 4-of-6 from three. Heaven Hamling added in 19 points with six rebounds, while Abbie Draper chipped in 16 points of her own with six rebounds. Abby Schulte rounded out the group with a season-high 14 points to go along with five assists.
THE SERIES VS. KANSAS CITY
This will be the 23rd all-time meeting between NDSU and Kansas City dating back to 2008 with the Roos holding the slight edge, 12-10. In their most recent meeting last season, Kansas City topped NDSU, 71-64, in the quarterfinal round of the Summit League Tournament. Heaven Hamling paced the Bison with 16 points, five assists and four rebounds.
THE SERIES VS. OMAHA
This will be the 73rd all-time meeting between NDSU and Omaha dating back to 1980 with the Bison leading the series, 51-21. NDSU is 7-3 against Omaha in the last 10 matchups, but fell short in the most recent encounter, 63-58, in Omaha last season. Elle Evans led the way for the Bison notching her first career double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds.
THE THIRD QUARTER IS OURS
The Bison have won three of their last four games with the help of fast starts in the second half. NDSU has scored 30 or more points in two games over that span, including a season-high 38 in the win over Northern Arizona last week. The Bison are averaging 25.3 points per game in the third quarter and are outscoring opponents, 101-76, over the last four games.
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 third in the Summit League shooting 34.1 percent from beyond the arc.
YOUNG BISON PRODUCING
All four true freshmen on the roster have seen action in at least 11 games and average at least 7.0 minutes per game this season. The Bison have totaled 1,011 points as a team through the first 14 games with 27.4 percent (278 points) of that total coming from true freshmen. Abby Krzewinski, who has started each of the last 11 games, leads the freshmen group with 7.9 points over 21.5 minutes per game.
AMONG THE TOP FIVE
Through the first 14 games, Heaven Hamling and Elle Evans both rank in the top five in multiple categories in the Summit League. Hamling leads the conference in three-point percentage (1st, 40.0), three-pointers (1st, 34), and three-pointers per game (1st, 2.43). Evans ranks third in the league in blocks per game (1.14) and fourth in three-pointers per game (1.93).
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 1,412, joining Katie Birkel (2008-13) as the only players in the NDSU Division I era to surpass the mark. Hamling is 40 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 11th on the Bison all-time scoring list with 1,412 points.
THE THREE-POINT CHASE IS ON
Heaven Hamling has connected on a team-best 34 three-pointers and pushed her career total at NDSU to 233 over four seasons, which ranks second all-time in Bison history. Hamling is 46 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 261-123 overall record spanning 13 seasons. He notched a 199-58 mark during eight seasons at Emporia State. Collins has posted a 62-65 mark at NDSU over his first four seasons. His 62 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, 14.6), three-point field goals made (2nd, 233), three-point field goal percentage (3rd, .383), free throw percentage (3rd, .861), defensive rebounding average (T7th, 3.7), defensive rebounds (9th, 360), games started (10th, 96) and minutes average (4th, 32.2).
Hamling has also surpassed the 1,500 career points scoring mark with 1,586. She started her career at Stephen F. Austin State for one season in 2018-19 and netted 174 points. Hamling has totaled 1,412 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 273 three-pointers, which ranks 13th in the nation. Caitlin Clark (Iowa) leads the country with 426 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.
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 477-142 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.
NDSU has started this season winning each of its first five home games and has won seven straight dating back to last season. The Bison have scored 85 or more points in six games over that span, including two 100-point performances.
UP NEXT
NDSU will travel to Denver on Thursday, Jan. 18. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. CT
Players Mentioned
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