FARGO — North Dakota State earned an historic victory Monday night at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex. The Bison scored a 72-63 victory against Montana in the second round of the Women's NIT before 2,254 fans at Scheels Center. NDSU won a Women's NIT game for the first time in program history and also hosted a postseason game for the first time in its Division I era. The Bison last hosted a postseason game in 2000 in the NCAA Division II North Central regional. “I was really proud of our group, the way they came out with poise," said Bison head coach Jory Collins . Junior forward Abbie Draper paced the Bison with 18 points and seven rebounds, while sophomore guard Elle Evans added 17 points, four rebounds and two blocked shots. ADVERTISEMENT The Bison avanced to the Super 16 and next play the Minnesota-Pacific winner. The Bison played for the first time in nearly two weeks. Their previous game was March 12 against South Dakota State in the Summit League tournament title game. Collins said he was impressed that his team came out sharp after the long layoff between games. “The hardest thing is keeping your edge against each other," Collins said. “I thought we did a really good
Job today handling that. ... I was worried and maybe I didn’t need to be.” Below are scenes from Monday's victory: North Dakota State's Abby Krzewinski and Montana's Gina Marxen tip off during WNIT play on Monday, March 25, 2024, at the Scheels Center. David Samson/The Forum North Dakota State's Abby Krzewinski collides with Montana's Dani Bartsch during WNIT play on Monday, March 25, 2024, at the Scheels Center. David Samson/The Forum North Dakota State's Heaven Hamling drives on Montana's MJ Bruno during WNIT play on Monday, March 25, 2024, at the Scheels Center. David Samson/The Forum North Dakota State's Abbie Draper grabs a rebound over Montana's Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw during WNIT play on Monday, March 25, 2024, at the Scheels Center. David Samson/The Forum Former North Dakota State women's
basketball player Rachael Otto, front right, is surrounded by other former Bison players Monday, March 25, 2024, at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex. The group watch the Bison play Montana in the second round of the Women's NIT. David Samson/The Forum North Dakota State's Avery Koenen scores against Montana's Carmen Gfeller during WNIT play on Monday, March 25, 2024, at the Scheels Center. David Samson/The Forum North Dakota State's Abby Schulte is introduced before play against Montana in the WNIT tournament on Monday, March 25, 2024, at the Scheels Center. David Samson/The Forum North Dakota State's Elle Evans hits a 3-point shot over Montana's Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw during WNIT play on Monday, March 25, 2024, at the Scheels Center. David Samson/The Forum North Dakota State's Avery Koenen gets a put back basket against Montana during WNIT play on Monday, March 25, 2024, at the Scheels Center. David Samson/The Forum North Dakota State's Abbie Draper scores against Montana's Dani Bartsch during WNIT play on Monday, March 25, 2024, at the Scheels Center. David Samson/The Forum North Dakota State's Avery Koenen scores over Montana's Mack Konig during WNIT play on Monday, March 25, 2024, at the Scheels Center. David Samson/The Forum North Dakota State's Elle Evans scores against Montana's MJ Bruno during WNIT play on Monday, March 25, 2024, at the Scheels Center. David Samson/The Forum North Dakota State's Elle Evans drives against Montana's Mack Konig during WNIT play on Monday, March 25, 2024, at the Scheels Center. David Samson/The Forum North Dakota State's Elle Evans stops a shot by Montana's Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw during WNIT play on Monday, March 25, 2024, at the Scheels Center. David Samson/The Forum North Dakota State's Abby Schulte, Abby Krzewinski, Abbie Draper and Elle Evans celebrate their win over Montana after WNIT play on Monday, March 25, 2024, at the Scheels Center. David Samson/Forum Communications Co. Read more Bison earn 1st Women's NIT victory, advance to Super 16 12h ago Kolpack: Women's hoops is hot, and Bison are part of the party 12h ago Live at 7 p.m.: NDSU women's basketball vs Montana in WNIT 2nd round on WDAY Xtra and WDAY+ 16h ago Share Share this article News reporting News reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? Tags Tags NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY BISON WOMEN'S BASKETBALL BISON MEDIA ZONE FARGO INFORUM BISMARCK INFORUM-INSTAGRAM By Eric Peterson Peterson covers college athletics for The Forum, including Concordia College and Minnesota State Moorhead. He also covers the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks independent
baseball team and helps out with North Dakota State
Football coverage. Peterson has been working at the newspaper since 1996. Twitter