Bison women defeat USD for longest winning streak since 2004-05

In guard Heaven Hamling’s last home game, NDSU defeated the Coyotes 63-54 for their eighth straight women’s basketball victory at Scheels Center at Sanford Health Athletic Complex. It’s the longest winning streak since the 2004-05 season when the transitioning Division I Bison went 26-1 playing predominantly a Division II independent schedule.

“We’ve gotten into a groove and into a routine,” said Bison head coach Jory Collins. “I think our players are obviously playing with confidence and they’re having fun doing it. They believe in each other and even when it gets close, I think they believe the next play is going to go our way.”

They’ve done it behind Hamling. Hugs were everywhere eight minutes before tipoff when Hamling was honored for being the only senior playing in her final home game. Even 20 minutes after the final horn, it was still emotional for her.

“Trying to hold it together as best I can,” she said. “This program has meant everything to me. All the kids out there, all the fans, it changed my perspective of college basketball and I hope I played a part in someone who comes to the games and watches NDSU basketball.”

The Bison came in leading the Summit in 3-point field goal percentage at 38.2%, which ranked ninth in Division I. Guard Elle Evans came in seventh in the country hitting 45% of her 3-pointers, which was also tops in the conference.

Moreover, Hamling came in with 257 career 3-pointers, second on NDSU’s all-time list, and needs 22 to pass Taylor Thunstedt for the Bison career lead.

The Coyotes noticed.

NDSU finished 1-9 from 3-point range.

“We’re a team about perseverance,” said Bison forward Abbie Draper. “We’re able to play inside when we need to so being able to do both is super hard to play against.”

Draper led the Bison with 15 points. Hamling and guard Abby Schulte had 11 each with Avery Koenen’s 10 rebounds leading to a 43-22 Bison advantage on the glass.

They needed all those stats. NDSU was just 1 of 8 from beyond the arc in the first half, but still led 28-24. The Bison never did find much room from the outside, turning this game into a foul-plagued, physical struggle by both teams.

The Bison took a 45-37 lead into the final quarter. They maintained that margin, although never really at a safe distance.

“We got the (W) and that’s all that really matters,” Hamling said. “We took advantage of them in some different ways tonight.”

The Coyotes were without head coach Kayla Karius, who remained at home expecting the birth of her baby. Assistant coach Mike Jewett directed the USD bench. NDSU, meanwhile, finishes its regular season at South Dakota State on Saturday.

At 13-2 in the league, and South Dakota State still unbeaten, nothing will be decided in the standings against the Jackrabbits. SDSU, unbeaten in the conference, will take the No. 1 seed to the Summit tournament and the Bison the second seed.

Still, at 19-9 overall, NDSU is just one win away from reaching 20 victories for the first time since that ‘04-'05 season.

“It’s the next game, we’re all competitors,” Collins said. “Everytime you lace them up, you’re trying to win. We have this momentum, we’ve been feeling good about how we’re playing, I’d like to leave Saturday still feeling good about how we’re playing into next week. They’re obviously just as hot on a win streak themselves.”

USD 7 24 37 54

NDSU 14 28 45 63

USD (19-11, 8-7 Summit): Duffney 4-6 3-4 14, Demers 2-6 0-0 4, Avila-Ambrosi 0-3 1-2 1, Larkins 8-15 5-5 22, Holmes 1-11 0-0 3, Hempe 2-4 0-0 5, Mazurek 0-1 0-0 0, DePerry 2-4 0-0 4, Grange 0-0 0-0 0, Kieffer 0-2 1-4 1. Totals: 19-52 10-15 54.

NDSU (19-9, 11-2 Summit): Draper 5-12 5-6 15, H. Hamling 5-14 1-2 11, Evans 2-7 4-4 8, Schulte 4-5 3-6 11, Krzewinski 0-3 4-6 4, Koenen 3-6 1-2 8, Simon 2-3 2-2 6, Mackenzie 0-0 0-0 0, T. Hamling 0-1 0-0 0, Graham 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 21-52 20-28 63.

Total fouls: USD 19, NDSU 24. Fouled out: Mazurek, Larkins, Schulte. Rebounds: USD 22 (Demers 7); NDSU 43 (Koenen 10). 3-point goals: USD 6-22 (Duffney 3-4, Avila-Ambrosi 0-1, Larkins 1-4, Holmes 1-8, Hempe 1-3, Mazurek 0-1, Kieffer 0-1); NDSU 1-9 (Draper 0-1, H. Hamling 0-3, Evans 0-1, Krzewinski 0-1, Koenen 1-1, T. Hamling 0-1, Graham 0-1). Assists: USD 10 (Larkins 4); NDSU 7 (Schulte 3). Turnovers: USD 11 (four with 2); NDSU 12 (H. Hamling, Evans 3). A1,035.