THIS WEEK         
The North Dakota State (18-9, 12-2 Summit) women's basketball team enters the final week of regular season play hosting South Dakota (19-10, 8-6 Summit) on Thursday night at 7:00 p.m., at Scheels Center. The Bison wrap the week at South Dakota State (22-5, 14-0 Summit) on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
 
GAME COVERAGE
Watch: Both games will be available on the Summit League Network for subscribers. The contest against South Dakota will also broadcast on WDAY Xtra 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 game against South Dakota will be senior night with senior guard Heaven Hamling being recognized prior to tip-off.
 
BISON QUICK HITS         

• NDSU enters the week on a season-best seven game win streak and sits in second place in the Summit League. It marks the longest win streak for the Bison since the 2004-05 season.
• South Dakota has won two of its last three games and most recently fell short against Oral Roberts, 77-63. The Coyotes are 7-4 on the road this season.
• South Dakota State has won its last 16 games and most recently downed St. Thomas, 97-63.
• The Bison are receiving votes in the latest College Insider Top 25 Poll for the third straight week.
• NDSU leads the Summit League and ranks ninth in the nation in three-point percentage shooting 38.2 percent beyond the arc.
• Elle Evans enters the week leading the Summit League and ranks seventh in the nation in three-point percentage shooting 45.0 percent. She also leads the conference in three-pointers (63) and three-pointers per game (2.33).
• Heaven Haming has totaled 257 three-pointers over four seasons and moved into second place on the all-time NDSU list. She's 22 triples away from passing Taylor Thunstedt (2014-18) for the top spot in NDSU history with 279.
• Heaven Hamling is the leading scorer in the NDSU Division I era and ranks fifth on the all-time Bison scoring list with 1,613 points.
• 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.

LAST TIME OUT
NDSU dismantled North Dakota, 107-80, to extend its win streak to seven games on Saturday at Scheels Center in front of 2,502 fans. The Bison had six players reach double figures in scoring with Elle Evans setting the pace with her third straight 20-point performance with 21 points on 5-of-7 shooting from three.
 
THE SERIES VS. SOUTH DAKOTA              
This will be the 84th all-time meeting between NDSU and South Dakota dating back to 1977 with the Bison leading the series, 45-38. The Bison have won each of the last three meetings after snapping a 13-game losing skid against the Coyotes last season. Earlier this season, NDSU opened Summit League play with a 84-69 victory over South Dakota in Vermillion. Heaven Hamling paced the Bison with 24 points, three rebounds and three assists.
 
THE SERIES VS. SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 
This will be the 101st all-time meeting between NDSU and South Dakota State dating back to 1976 with the Jackrabbits leading the series, 61-39. SDSU has won each of the last 20 meetings and most recently edged NDSU earlier this season, 65-58. Heaven Hamling led the way with a game-high 18 points.
 
THE WIN STREAK GOES TO SEVEN
The Bison are currently on a season-best seven-game win streak, which is the longest since NDSU won 24 straight games in the 2004-05 season. Over the seven-game span, the Bison have scored 80 or more points in six games and are outscoring opponents by 20.3 points per game. Elle Evans (18.4), Heaven Hamling (15.1), Abby Schulte (10.6) and Abbie Draper (10.1) are all averaging double digits in scoring.
 
AMONG THE BEST IN THE NATION LAST WEEK
The Bison were the only team in nation last week to average 100.0 points per game. NDSU also led the nation in three-point percentage (68.3), while being slotted second in field goal percentage (59.0) and second three-pointers per game (14.0).
 
THE BISON HAVE RANGE
NDSU has connected on 10 or three-pointers in eight games this season, including a season-best 15 against North Dakota last week. That total ranked tied for the fifth-most in a single-game in NDSU history. The Bison have drained 212 triples this season, which ranks as the second-most all-time on the NDSU single-season list. NDSU netted 247 triples in the 2002-03 season. The Bison lead the Summit League and rank ninth in the nation shooting 38.2 percent from three.
 
Elle Evans paces the Bison with a career-high 63 triples. Her 63 triples are tied for the eighth-most in a single-season in NDSU history with Theresa Lang (1997-98). Evans is two triples shy of tying Hannah Linz (2011-12) for seventh place on the single-season list with 65. The Edwardsville, Ill., native leads the Summit League and ranks seventh in the nation shooting 45.0 percent from three.
 
BY THE NUMBERS IN SUMMIT LEAGUE PLAY
83.1 - NDSU leads the Summit League in conference play with 83.1 points per game.
55.5 - Elle Evans is slotted third in Summit League play shooting 55.5 percent from the field.
52.1 - Elle Evans leads the Summit League shooting 55.1 percent from three in conference play.
48 - Elle Evans has drained 48-of-50 free throws in conference play.
42.4 - The Bison lead the Summit League in conference play shooting 42.4 percent from three.
23 - Heaven Hamling ranks fourth in Summit League play with 26 steals.
19.1 - Elle Evans ranks second in conference play averaging 19.1 points per game.
 
HOME SWEET HOME
The Bison boast a 11-1 mark in Scheels Center this season and started the season winning the first eight straight before falling short against South Dakota State. Over the last two seasons, NDSU is 22-2 at home. NDSU is 483-143 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.
 
CAREER DAY IN GRAND FORKS
Elle Evans posted a career-high 33 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field and 11-of-12 from the free throw line in the 101-85 win over North Dakota. The Edwardsville, Ill., native also snatched a game-high 10 rebounds to log her third double-double of the season. Her 33 points rank tied for the eighth-most in a single-game in NDSU history.
 
PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Elle Evans was named the TicketSmarter Summit League Peak Performer of the Week for the first time in her career on Jan. 29. She logged her third straight 20-point game with a career-high 29 points on 7-of-7 shooting from three and 9-of-14 from the field against St. Thomas. Her seven triples rank tied for the fourth-most in a single-game in NDSU history and were two shy of the program record of nine, which was set by Beth Bue against Northern Colorado on Feb. 26, 2002. Evans also connected on all four free throw attempts and notched a game-high three blocks.
 
YOUNG BISON PRODUCING
All four true freshmen on the roster have seen action in at least 23 games this season and average at least eight minutes per game. Abby Krzewinski, who has started each of the last 24 games, leads the freshmen group with 7.6 points over 22.0 minutes per game.
 
MOVING UP THE ALL-TIME SCORING LIST
Heaven Hamling has begun her ascent of the NDSU all-time scoring list and has surpassed 1,600 career points with 1,613, which is the most in the NDSU Division I era. She currently ranks fifth on the Bison all-time scoring list behind Lori Knetter (1978-82), who scored 1,647 career points.
 
THE THREE-POINT CHASE IS ON
Heaven Hamling has connected on 58 three-pointers and pushed her career total at NDSU to 257 over four seasons, which ranks second all-time in Bison history. Hamling is 22 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. South Dakota State is ranked No. 14 in the poll this week.
 
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.
 
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 272-125 overall record spanning 13 seasons. He notched a 199-58 mark during eight seasons at Emporia State. Collins has posted a 73-67 mark at NDSU over his first four seasons. His 73 wins at NDSU rank as the second-most in Bison history behind Amy Ruley (671 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 (5th, 1,613), scoring average (6th, 14.7), three-point field goals made (2nd, 257), three-point field goal percentage (4th, .381), free throw percentage (5th, .850), defensive rebounds (4th, 414), defensive rebounding average (7th, 3.8), assists (9th, 329), games started (9th, 109) and minutes average (4th, 32.1).
 
Hamling has also reached the 1,700 career points scoring mark with 1,787. She started her career at Stephen F. Austin State for one season in 2018-19 and netted 174 points. Hamling has totaled 1,613 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 297 three-pointers, which ranks 14th in the nation. Caitlin Clark (Iowa) leads the country with 495 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.
 
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 16 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.
 
UP NEXT
NDSU will be back in action at the Summit League Tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D., on March 8-12.