VERMILLION, S.D. (Interstat) — Avery Koenen scored 30 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead North Dakota State to an 81-68 women’s basketball victory over South Dakota on Saturday at DakotaDome. The Bison, now 22-2 overall, used a dominant 31-point third quarter to pull away from the Coyotes after trailing by two at halftime. Koenen, a 6-foot-2 sophomore from Montevideo, Minnesota, added five assists and two blocks. Molly Joyce led South Dakota (21-7) with 24 points. Angelina Robles added 22 points for the Coyotes in front of a crowd of 2,304. North Dakota State swept the regular-season series, having also won the previous meeting 79-56 on Jan. 24.

VERMILLION, S.D. (Interstat) — In a pivotal Summit League showdown with first place on the line, the North Dakota State women’s basketball team delivered a statement performance on the road, powered by a dominant third-quarter surge and a historic individual effort from Avery Koenen. The Bison defeated the South Dakota Coyotes 81-68 before a crowd of 2,304 at the DakotaDome on Saturday, February 21, 2026, solidifying their hold atop the conference standings. The game’s most critical sequence unfolded decisively in the third quarter. After a tightly contested first half that saw South Dakota take a slim 30-28 lead into the locker room, North Dakota State erupted. The Bison outscored the Coyotes 31-21 in the period, transforming a defensive struggle into a comfortable advantage. The run was fueled by a stark contrast in offensive efficiency, as North Dakota State shot a blistering 60.7% from the field in the quarter while holding South Dakota to 33.3% shooting. This explosive 10-minute stretch effectively decided the contest, turning a two-point deficit into an eight-point lead entering the final frame. Central to that surge and the entire game was the phenomenal play of North Dakota State’s Avery Koenen. The 6-foot-2 junior from Montevideo, Minnesota, was virtually unstoppable, finishing with 30 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and two blocks in 35 minutes. She scored 12 of her points in the pivotal third quarter, consistently attacking the paint and drawing fouls. Koenen’s performance built upon her recent dominance, coming just six days after a 29-point, 13-rebound outing against North Dakota. Koenen received crucial support from teammate Karrington Asp. The 6-foot-2 sophomore from Epworth, Iowa, provided a highly efficient 10 points, four rebounds, four assists and two blocks off the bench, often pairing with Koenen to overwhelm South Dakota’s interior defense. Guards Jocelyn Schiller and Molly Lenz each added 11 points for the Bison, who shot an exceptional 60.8% (31 of 51) from the field for the game. Their offensive rating of 119.0 points per 100 possessions underscored a masterclass in offensive execution. South Dakota, which fell to North Dakota State by 23 points in Fargo just four weeks prior, fought hard but could not match the Bison’s scoring efficiency. The Coyotes were led by Molly Joyce’s 24 points and Angelina Robles’s 22 points. Robles, a 5-foot-5 guard from San Diego, was relentless in getting to the free-throw line, where South Dakota excelled, making 25 of 27 attempts. However, the team’s overall shooting was a decisive weakness; they managed only 34.4% (21 of 61) from the floor and a crippling 1 of 5 from three-point range. Forward Elise Turrubiates contributed seven points and eight rebounds in the loss. Defensively, North Dakota State’s length and discipline were key. Despite committing 12 turnovers to South Dakota’s six and being outscored 15-10 off those miscues, the Bison controlled the paint with a 46-38 advantage and recorded five blocks. South Dakota’s offensive rating of 96.0 reflected the difficulty they faced in generating quality shots against the Bison defense. The victory improved North Dakota State’s season record to 22-2 overall and 12-1 in Summit League play, extending their winning streak to nine games. The loss dropped South Dakota to 21-7 and 10-3 in the conference, creating a two-game gap between the rivals with three games remaining in the regular season. The Bison now own the head-to-head tiebreaker, having swept the season series. North Dakota State will look to continue its momentum when it hosts South Dakota State on Wednesday. South Dakota, meanwhile, must regroup quickly for a road test at North Dakota on Thursday before the regular-season finale at South Dakota State. Saturday’s result firmly established North Dakota State as the team to beat in the Summit League as the calendar turns toward March.

VERMILLION, S.D. (Interstat) — A marquee Summit League women’s basketball showdown is set for Saturday when the No. 21-2 North Dakota State Bison visit the 20-6 South Dakota Coyotes at the DakotaDome. The matchup features the conference’s top two teams and is a rematch of a Jan. 24 meeting in Fargo, which the Bison dominated 79-56. That result extended NDSU’s winning streak to 10 games, a streak that now stands at 16 following a commanding 87-51 victory at North Dakota last Sunday. North Dakota State, boasting one of the nation’s premier records, has been led by the dominant play of forward Avery Koenen. In the first matchup against South Dakota, Koenen posted 22 points and 10 rebounds. She is coming off a 29-point, 13-rebound, four-block performance in her last outing. Over her last five games, she is averaging 19.8 points and 8.2 rebounds. South Dakota, meanwhile, aims to defend its home court and avenge its earlier loss. The Coyotes have won four of their last five, though they needed overtime to edge Missouri-Kansas City 70-65 last Thursday. Guard Tori Schlagel, who scored seven points in the first meeting with NDSU, led USD with 17 points in that overtime win. The Coyotes’ defense, which allows just 56.2 points per game at home, will be tested by a potent Bison offense averaging 82.5 points during its streak. The Bison have won their last four road games by an average of 38.5 points. South Dakota is 10-2 at the DakotaDome this season. With the Summit League regular-season title race tightening, Saturday’s contest carries significant weight for postseason seeding and momentum. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. local time.