MINNEAPOLIS — The rickety old Barn was maybe 1/7th full and this was a game in the WNIT, a tournament that in the alphabet soup pecking order of women's college
basketball ranks a distant third behind the NCAA and the new WBIT. Yet down the stretch, in a game that likely didn't much register on the March Madness landscape, the players were fist-pumping, the coaches were wildly gesticulating and the fans who were there rose to their feet and roared. And after the game, there was emotion. North Dakota State's outstanding sophomore, Elle Evans, broke down talking to the handful of media asking her questions. "I'm sorry," she said. No need to apologize. If a game matters, it matters. ADVERTISEMENT This one clearly mattered to both NDSU and Minnesota, judging by the teams' reactions after the final horn. The Gophers edged the Bison 69-65 Friday in Williams Arena in the Super 16 round of the WNIT, going on a 7-0 run in the final 2 minutes when NDSU had more turnovers (2) than points (0). In the history of tough finishes, it ranks up there. This was a game that was there for the taking, one that would've been the biggest win in NDSU's Division I history. It would've been one heckuva comeback, too. NDSU trailed by 16 points late in the third quarter, looking dead in the water, before going on a 15-0 run to make it a thriller. Coulda. Shoulda. Woulda. A bit of a theme this season. North Dakota State guard Heaven Hamling works against Minnesota's Grace Grocholski in the WNIT basketball tournament at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on March 29, 2024. Craig Lassig / Special to The Forum NDSU's season is over after 22 victories. After its first berth in the Summit League tournament title game. After its first postseason tournament victory since the glorious NCAA Division II days. The wonderful Heaven Hamling's career is over. It's all over. That's the bad news. Even after what felt like a breakthrough year. "There's times when you coach where you get done and it's been a good year, but you're relieved because you're ready to get to next year. You're ready to get things changed and get some pieces and help people get better," Bison coach Jory Collins said. "I wasn't looking forward to next year with this group whatsoever. I was enjoying every single day. And I think we could've played for the next month and a half and I think our team would've really enjoyed that. That's how we show up in practice every day. Everybody's smiling, laughing and we work hard." The good news is that, finally, it feels like the beginning of something for NDSU women's basketball. When's the last time it felt like that? ADVERTISEMENT The Bison lose Hamling to graduation, yes, but everybody else can return. It's believed Evans and Collins are in a good place, that the star doesn't have designs on going to the transfer portal. She sounded optimistic about next year, even through some postgame tears. "We're so young. And this year, we've just done some amazing things. I'm just so proud of everyone on this team," Evans said. "I'm so proud to be a part of NDSU women's basketball and I'm so excited for the future because we have such a young group. Obviously losing Heaven is huge, it's going to be hard to replace her, but I think with the experience that we had this year with pretty much everyone getting significant minutes, I think it is huge for us and it's going to show in the coming years." So for those asking — which is natural in today's bizarre college sports world — Evans sounds like somebody who will return to the Bison next season. That's a good place to start. Add in Abby Krzewinski, Avery Koenen, Miriley Simon, Abbie Draper and others — including new recruits on whom Collins is bullish — and NDSU has something cooking. Abby Schulte of North Dakota State drives up the court against Minnesota in the WNIT basketball tournament at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on March 29, 2024. Craig Lassig / Special to The Forum "I couldn't be more obviously excited about the group that we have," Collins said. "We have a lot of young players, so we got huge experience this year. That's going to help us jump off next year." The monster in the way, of course, is South Dakota State. What's new? NDSU played with the Jackrabbits in all three meetings this season, but faded late each time. The Jacks aren't going anywhere and themselves might be significantly better next year. But for once, a Bison women's basketball season ended with hope. A loss, yes. But hope for what's next. "One hundred percent," Evans said. ADVERTISEMENT This year and last, the WNIT. That's fine, but there are better letters in the Bison's future. Comments Share Share this article Opinion Opinion Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. The Trust Project What is this? Tags Tags BISON MEDIA ZONE BISON MEDIA ZONE SUBSCRIBERS ONLY By Mike McFeely Mike McFeely is a columnist for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. He began working for The Forum in the 1980s while he was a student studying journalism at Minnesota State University Moorhead. He's been with The Forum full time since 1990, minus a six-year hiatus when he hosted a local radio talk-show.
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