North Dakota State Women’s Basketball hosted the Great-Eight round Monday night, appearing in the round for the first time in programs history.
The Bison would work out to an early lead in the first quarter with the help of Avery Koenen. The Sophomore scored nine points in the first quarter, helping NDSU work out to a seven-point lead, two different times. Troy would quickly respond after finding themselves down seven with a little over three minutes left to play, going on an 8-2 run to close the quarter down 21-20.
Troy would gain the lead in the second quarter and after a made lay-up around the seven-minute mark would see themselves up six. North Dakota State would work to keep their deficit close throughout the quarter and would regain the lead with three minutes to go, going up 35-37. Troy wouldn’t back down and after getting a made jumper from Leilani Guion, would snatch the lead, eventually heading into the break, up 46-41.
Coming out of the halftime break, the Trojans would stay one step ahead of the Bison, seeing the game remain within one possession, but NDSU couldn’t seem to get the shot they needed. After grabbing a defensive rebound on a miss, Abby Schulte would propel NDSU into the lead with a made lay-up. Troy would take back the lead with a minute and a half left when Briana Peguero hit three free-throws after getting fouled. Molly Lenz gave the Bison the lead once more, this time at the end of the quarter, hitting a three-point shot to give NDSU a 62-61 advantage heading into the fourth.
Troy would come into the fourth blazing, grabbing their biggest lead of the game, 77-68, after a made lay-up from Zay Dyer. NDSU would find themselves down four, with just 20 seconds left. Molly Lentz would get fouled by Troy’s Briana Peguero on a three-point attempt, which Lentz would put all three shots in, bringing the game within one. After Troy made both of their free-throws after getting intentionally fouled, North Dakota State had one last chance. Out of the inbound play, Abby Schulte caught the pass and ran into the lane, throwing a pass to Molly Lentz, who put up a three-pointer, cashing it, sending us to overtime, tied at 81-81.
Abby Krzewinski would get the Bison started on the right foot in the overtime period, hitting a three-pointer. Troy would however immediately respond with 10 straight points, in an attack that changed the game swiftly. NDSU would only manage seven points the whole overtime period, which ultimately brought their brilliant season to an end in the Great-Eight round, falling to Troy 97-88.
Avery Koenen led the way for the Bison tonight, getting another double-double to end her season, as she scored 23 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Koenen also logged a team high 40 minutes.
North Dakota State ends their season at 21-12, getting to the Great-Eight round for the first time in program history.
*This article was written by Flag Family Media intern Cayden Lloyd*
