FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State women’s basketball team closed out its 2024 signing class this week with five total additions dating back to November.
The Bison will welcome Claire Stern, Marisa Frost, Amelia Hobson, Molly Lenz and Sacia Vanderpool to the roster next fall.
“We are excited to add these five players to our team,” said head coach Jory Collins. “They all bring traits and attributes that we feel like complement our returning roster. Besides basketball talent and skill level, we’re just as excited about the quality of individuals they are. I think our fan base is really going to enjoy getting to know this group of newcomers.”
Stern is a four-year letterwinner at Maple Grove Senior High School and averaged 9.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game in her junior season. The 6-0 forward was the sixth-rated prospect in Minnesota on prepgirlshoops.com and was an All-Conference selection in her junior season.
Frost is a four-year letterwinner at Centennial High School and averaged 15.8 points, 2.3 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game in her junior season. The 5-9 point guard was the ninth-rated prospect in Minnesota on prepgirlshoops.com and was also ranked as the 229th best prospect on Dan Olson’s Collegiate Girls Basketball Report.
Hobson finished her career surpassing the 2,000 career points mark with 2,221. She was the fourth-highest scorer in the Victorian Championship League with 145 total points this past season. The Parkdale, Australia native was also selected to the under 18s Victorian State Team, which recognizes the top 10 players in the state.
Lenz appeared in all 34 games off the bench for Illinois State in her freshman season and helped the Redbirds to 22-12 overall record last season. She averaged 14.1 minutes per game and reached the scoring column in 26 of 34 games, including a season-best 13 points at Drake on Feb. 10. Lenz also contributed 49 total assists and 33 rebounds.
Vanderpool played three seasons at Wisconsin and appeared in six games after redshirting during the 2021-22 season. Prior to Wisconsin, Vanderpool was a two-time All-Conference selection at Byron High School in Byron, Minn. She averaged 16.9 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game in her senior season and was named to the All-State honorable mention list.
The Bison finished the 2023-24 season with the most wins in the NDSU Division I era with a 22-12 overall record and went on to make their second straight appearance in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament.
Full 2024 Signing Class:
| Player | Position | Height | Hometown | High School/Previous |
| Claire Stern | Forward | 6-0 | Maple Grove, Minn. | Maple Grove Senior |
| Marisa Frost | Guard | 5-9 | Lino Lakes, Minn. | Centennial |
| Amelia Hobson | Guard | 6-1 | Parkdale, Australia | Parkdale Secondary College |
| Molly Lenz | Guard | 5-8 | Victoria, Minn. | Eden Prairie / Illinois State |
| Sacia Vanderpool | Forward | 6-4 | Byron, Minn. | Byron / Wisconsin |