The Bison Women’s Basketball team was in action to host the Super-16 round Thursday night, reeling off of a close win their last time out against New Mexico State University.
After Washington State would win the tip-off, the first four minutes of the game would stay within one possession. Avery Koenen would start her scoring night off, hot. After a second chance jump shot went in for her first make of the night, the Sophomore would make it five straight points after a made three-pointer. Koenen’s three-pointer would be the start of 12-0 run by the Bison, which would span over five minutes of game time. The 12 straight points would inflate NDSU’s lead to 16 4, before the Cougars would make back-to-back buckets, one being a three, to bring the score to 16-9 at the end of the first quarter.
Washington State opened up the second quarter determined to not let this game slip away so soon. After Abby Schulte made a turnaround jumper to score the first points of the quarter for NDSU, WSU would go on their own scoring run, dropping 11 straight points to give them the lead with under four left to play in the half. In just the three remaining minutes left in the first half, both teams fought for the lead. Abby Krzewinski nailed a three-point shot, which Marisa Frost would follow with the next possession, knocking down her own three to give NDSU the lead going into the half, up 26-24.
The second half started the same way the first ended, a dogfight between both programs. Abbie Draper would hit her first and only three-point make of the night, giving the Bison a three-point lead. Shortly after, Avery Koenen would reach double figures in scoring for the night, hitting a hook-shot to extend North Dakota States’ lead to five. Washington State would close their third quarter after Koenen’s made shot from the help of Charlotte Abraham. The freshman would hit two threes in a row to give WSU a one-point lead, before Marisa Frost hit a three-point shot for the Bison to retake the lead. The Cougars would get a last second bucket to tie the game up at 38-38 heading into the final quarter of play.
The start of the fourth quarter was shaky for North Dakota State. The Cougars would open with a momentum swing, outscoring NDSU, 10-4 in under three minutes of game time. After a Washington State miss, Abbie Schulte would catch the outlet pass from Avery Koenen and go coast-to-coast scoring a lay-up, as NDSU would try to secure some momentum heading into the last five minutes. Schulte’s lay-up was a big make, as the Bison would proceed to blow the roof off of the Scheels Center, scoring the next 17 points in a row. Washington State was held scoreless for just about seven minutes of the fourth quarter, as NDSU would use that 17-point swing to put the nail in the coffin, winning this one, 59-51.
Avery Koenen led NDSU’s comeback with 19 points, grabbing eight rebounds. Marisa Frost (12) and Abbie Draper (10) also reached double-figures in scoring.
North Dakota State is off to the Great Eight round for the first time in program’s history. They will host Troy on Monday night with the opening tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m.
*This article was written by Flag Family Media intern Cayden Lloyd*
