NDSU Women's Basketball Advances to Summit League Championship

Top-seeded Bison defeat No. 5 St. Thomas to reach conference title game

Mar. 8, 2026 at 5:22am

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The North Dakota State women's basketball team, the top seed in the Summit League tournament, defeated No. 5 seed St. Thomas 63-51 in the semifinals on Saturday. The Bison, now 28-3 on the season, are advancing to the conference championship game for the second time in program history.

Why it matters

NDSU's appearance in the Summit League title game marks a significant milestone for the program, as they look to secure an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Division I National Basketball Tournament with a win on Sunday.

The details

Avery Koenen led the Bison with a game-high 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting, along with eight rebounds, four steals, and one blocked shot. Molly Lenz chipped in nine points, while Marisa Frost added eight points, three rebounds, and one steal. NDSU shot 46 percent from the field and 87.5 percent from the free throw line as a team.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 7, 2026.
  • The Summit League championship game is scheduled for Sunday, March 8, 2026 at 3 p.m.

The players

Avery Koenen

The leading scorer for the North Dakota State women's basketball team, Koenen had a dominant performance in the semifinal game with 31 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals, and 1 block.

Molly Lenz

A key contributor for the Bison, Lenz scored 9 points in the semifinal victory over St. Thomas.

Marisa Frost

Frost added 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal for NDSU in the semifinal game.

Abby Krzewinski

Krzewinski recorded 6 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals for the Bison.

Jocelyn Schiller

After missing one game with injury, Schiller returned to score 3 points, grab 2 rebounds, and dish out 1 assist in over 28 minutes of action.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The winner of the Summit League championship game on Sunday will receive an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Division I National Basketball Tournament.

The takeaway

NDSU's appearance in the Summit League title game is a significant achievement for the program, as they look to secure an NCAA Tournament berth and continue their successful season.