THIS WEEK
The North Dakota State (22-11) women’s basketball team is set for the Super 16 round of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) at Minnesota (17-15) on Friday night. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m., at Williams Arena.
GAME COVERAGE
Watch: The contest will be available on B1G+ for subscribers.
Radio: Andy Rieckhoff (play-by-play) will be on the call on Bison 1660 with pregame coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m.
GoBison.com: Live statistics, audio and video links are available on GoBison.com.
BISON QUICK HITS
- NDSU picked up its first win program win the WNIT after topping Montana on Monday night, 72-63, at Scheels Center. The Bison earned a first-round bye to begin the WNIT.
- It will be the second overall appearance for NDSU in the WNIT after making its debut last season at Oregon before falling short in the first round.
- The Bison won 22 regular season games this season, which is the most in the Division I era and most since 2004-05.
- NDSU assembled a 13-3 mark in Summit League, which was the most wins in conference play since joining in the league in 2007-08.
- This will be the 10th all-time meeting between NDSU and Minnesota with the Gophers winning the most recent matchup earlier this season, 75-53, in Minneapolis.
- The Bison finished their home schedule with a 12-1 mark in Scheels Center and won its most games at home since 2004-05. NDSU is 23-2 at home over the last two seasons.
- The Bison put together a season-best eight-game win streak earlier this season, which was longest for NDSU since 2004-05 when the Bison won 24 straight.
- NDSU has drained 242 three-pointers this season, the second-most in a single-season in NDSU history.
- The Bison have registered a .755 free throw percentage, which is tied for the third-highest in a single-season in NDSU history.
- NDSU is slotted second in the Summit League and ranks 13th in the nation in three-point percentage shooting 37.0 percent beyond the arc. That mark is tied for fourth-highest in a single-season in NDSU history.
- Elle Evans ranks second in the nation in free throw percentage (93.4) and sixth in three-point percentage (45.3).
- Heaven Haming has totaled 270 three-pointers over four seasons and moved into second place on the all-time NDSU list. She’s nine 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 fourth on the all-time Bison scoring list with 1,713 points.
- NDSU posted an 18-12 (12-6 Summit) overall record and advanced to the WNIT for the first time in program history last season.
- NDSU entered 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 topped Montana in the second round of the WNIT on Monday night at Scheels Center. Abbie Draper paced the Bison with 18 points and seven rebounds. Elle Evans added in 17 points with four rebounds, two blocks and one steal. Abby Schulte filled up her stat line with 12 points, five rebounds and a game-high five assists.
HOW WE GOT HERE
The Bison earned their most wins since 2004-05 with a 21-11 overall record and advanced to the championship game at the Summit League Tournament for the first time in program history earlier this season. NDSU has now won at least 18 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons.
BISON IN THE WNIT
This will be both the second straight and second overall appearance for the Bison in the WNIT. NDSU made its first-ever appearance last season at Oregon. The Ducks topped the Bison, 96-57, in the first round in Eugene, Ore. Heaven Hamling paced the Bison with a team-high 16 points and six rebounds, while Elle Evans added in 15 points and five rebounds of her own.
THE SERIES VS. MINNESOTA
This will be the 10th all-time meeting between NDSU and Minnesota dating back 1982 with Gophers leading the series, 7-2. However, this will also be the third meeting over the last two seasons with each team winning on their home floors. NDSU topped Minnesota in Fargo last season, 71-65, before the Gophers topped the Bison, 75-53, earlier this season at Williams Arena. Heaven Hamling led the way for NDSU logging a double-double wiht 12 points and 10 rebounds. NDSU is 0-6 all-time when facing Minnesota on the road.
ALL-SUMMIT LEAGUE HONORS
Elle Evans was named to the All-Summit League First Team and All-Defensive Team. Heaven Hamling earned a spot on the All-Summit League Second Team, while Abby Krzewinski claimed a spot on the All-Freshman Team.
IT’S A MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT
The Bison have played a combined 33 games this season, which is tied for the most games in a single-season in NDSU history and most in the Division I era. The contest at Minnesota will mark the 34th game of the season and mark the longest season in Bison history.
THE BISON HAVE RANGE
NDSU has connected on 10 or three-pointers in 10 games this season, including a season-best 15 against North Dakota on Feb. 24. That total ranked tied for the fifth-most in a single-game in NDSU history. The Bison have drained 242 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 rank second in the Summit League and 13th in the nation in three-point percentage shooting 37.0 percent from beyond the arc.
Elle Evans has drained a team-high 73 three-pointers, which ranks as fifth-most in a single-season in NDSU history. Heaven Hamling also ranks seventh on the single-season list with 71. It marks the first time the Bison have had two different players record 70 or more triples in the same season.
WHAT’S A SOPHOMORE SLUMP?
After being named the Summit League Freshman of the Year last season, Elle Evans once again raised the bar in her sophomore season. She currently ranks in the top 10 in several NDSU single-season categories, including three-point field goals made (5th, 73), three-point field goal percentage (4th, .453) and free throw percentage (2nd, .934). Evans was also the only player in Summit League play this season to average at least 18.0 points per game and shoot above 50.0 percent from both the field and three.
BY THE NUMBERS IN SUMMIT LEAGUE PLAY
81.3 – NDSU ranked third in Summit League play averaging 81.3 points per game.
57 – Elle Evans drained 57-of-59 free throws in conference play.
55.3 – Elle Evans led the conference in Summit League play shooting 55.3 percent from three.
53.6 – Elle Evans ranked third in Summit League play shooting 53.6 percent from the field.
42.1 – The Bison led the Summit League in conference play shooting 42.1 percent from three.
28 – Heaven Hamling ranked sixth in Summit League play with 28 total steals.
18.4 – Elle Evans ranked third in conference play averaging 18.4 points per game.
100 PLUS GAMES OF EXPERIENCE
Heaven Hamling and Abby Schulte bring plenty of experience into the lineup having combined for over 200 career starts for the Bison. Hamling has started a team-high 115 games as a Bison, which ranks fifth on the all-time list. Schulte made her 100th career start in the regular season finale at South Dakota State and moved into 10th place on the all-time Bison starts list with 104.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Bison boast a 13-1 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 24-2 at home. NDSU is 485-143 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.
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 29 games this and average at least seven minutes per game. Abby Krzewinski, who has started each of the last 30 games, leads the freshmen group with 7.2 points over 21.9 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 1,700 career points with 1,713, which is the most in the NDSU Division I era. She currently ranks fourth on the list behind Janice Woods (1982-86), who is positioned in third place with 1,779 points.
THE THREE-POINT CHASE IS ON
Heaven Hamling has connected on 71 three-pointers and pushed her career total at NDSU to 270 over four seasons, which ranks second all-time in Bison history. Hamling is nine 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.
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.
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 276-127 overall record spanning 13 seasons. He notched a 199-58 mark during eight seasons at Emporia State. Collins has posted a 77-69 mark at NDSU over his first four seasons. His 77 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 (4th, 1713), scoring average (6th, 14.8), three-point field goals made (2nd, 270), three-point field goal percentage (4th, .381), free throw percentage (5th, .845), defensive rebounds (3rd, 446), defensive rebounding average (7th, 3.8), assists (9th, 343), games started (6th, 115) and minutes average (4th, 32.3).
Hamling has also reached the 1,800 career points scoring mark with 1,887. She started her career at Stephen F. Austin State for one season in 2018-19 and netted 174 points. Hamling has totaled 1,713 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 310 three-pointers, which ranks 13th in the nation. Caitlin Clark (Iowa) leads the country with 528 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.