Coming off of a strong defensive showing at Central Michigan on Nov. 8, the women’s basketball team returns home to take on North Dakota State.
Here is what you need to know before the Bulldogs battle the Bison:
Who: Butler vs. North Dakota State
When: Nov. 12, 7 p.m.
Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse
How to watch: ESPN+
Finding a way
Following two games where the offense clicked on all cylinders, the Bulldogs relied heavily on their defense to save the day against Central Michigan. The Dawgs forced 33 turnovers while junior guard Tamar Singer and senior guard Nevaeh Jackson generated six steals apiece with redshirt junior guard Saniya Jackson also collecting five steals.
Singer continued her strong start to the season sharing the ball, dishing out five assists, increasing her total to 28. Singer’s 9.3 assists per game average is good for third nationally. Additionally, the guard is averaging five steals per game, which is tied for 11th in the country.
Nevaeh led the way for Butler with 21 points, while graduate guard Jacy Weisbrod provided a spark off the bench, scoring 14 points — including nine from beyond the arc. Weisbrod has scored a team-high eight three-pointers on the season while coming off the bench in all three contests so far.
Points off turnovers and a rebounding advantage have been keys to success for the Bulldogs so far this season, with the Dawgs having 20 more points off turnovers than their opponents while averaging 17 more rebounds per game.
Only shooting 30% from the perimeter while also committing 24 turnovers meant that the Dawgs did not have the same offensive success against the Chippewas than it had in the first two games of the season. However, a longer layoff between games and playing at home could allow the offense to get back on track against a tough Bison outlet.
Scouting the Bison
In his eighth year as head coach of the Bison, Jory Collins has built a perennial mid-major power in Fargo. A year ago, North Dakota State finished 15-1 in the Summit League and 29-5 overall. At 1-2 to start the season, the Bison come in hungry for a win against a power-conference foe.
The Bison have been unafraid to challenge themselves against higher competition to start the season — losing its two games by a combined 12 points against Gonzaga and Creighton.
Junior forward Karrington Asp was named Summit League Peak Performer of the Week after averaging 19.0 points and 5.5 rebounds against Gonzaga and Creighton.
Other standouts in the Creighton matchup included junior guard Marisa Frost, who scored 15 points, and senior forward Miriley Simon, who scored 10 points to go along with two steals.
However, the Bison scored zero bench points in the Creighton game. If the Bulldogs can get off to a fast start and shut down Asp, they may be able to lean on their depth and put pressure on North Dakota State’s more unheralded players to carry the load.