Ndsu Women’s Basketball advances to Summit final, Koenen ankle status watched

Saturday at 3: 36 p. m. ET, ndsu women’s basketball secured a 63-51 win over the University of St. Thomas at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to reach the Summit League tournament title game. Avery Koenen powered the win while dealing with a sprained ankle, and the remaining question is how her ankle responds before tipoff against South Dakota State on Sunday.

Ndsu Women’s Basketball leans on Avery Koenen in 63-51 semifinal win

North Dakota State, the tournament’s top seed, advanced after beating fifth-seeded St. Thomas 63-51. Koenen, a junior, finished with a career-high 31 points as the Bison moved into the Summit League tournament championship game for the second time in three years.

Koenen’s stat line also included eight rebounds and four steals. Those steals helped force 22 St. Thomas turnovers, a figure that shaped the game’s flow even when North Dakota State struggled to turn early takeaways into separation on the scoreboard.

Jocelyn Schiller returned to the starting lineup after missing the previous two games with a sprained ankle. Molly Lenz added nine points and Marisa Frost scored eight as North Dakota State improved to 28-3.

Avery Koenen’s sprained ankle remains the key variable before Sunday

Koenen’s availability ultimately was not in doubt Saturday, but her health remains the central uncertainty heading into the title game. Koenen sprained her ankle early in North Dakota State’s quarterfinal win over Omaha, and Saturday’s semifinal was played with that injury still clearly a factor at times.

Koenen was described as not being 100%, with a slight grimace and glances down at her foot after a jump shot midway through the first quarter. When she was not in the game, she rode a stationary bike. Treatment involved local medical professionals and “a lot of ice, ” and Koenen credited trainers for preparing her to play.

As of Saturday afternoon, the measurable on-court evidence cut in two directions: Koenen produced efficiently, going 11 of 16 on field goals and 9 of 10 at the free-throw line, yet she also showed visible signs of discomfort. That leaves Sunday’s pregame warmups and any additional team medical updates as the most direct indicators of how much the ankle may limit her.

South Dakota State awaits as the next trigger point for clarity

The next confirmed event is the Summit League tournament title game: North Dakota State is scheduled to play South Dakota State at 3 p. m. Sunday in Sioux Falls (3 p. m. ET). How Koenen moves early, how much time she spends on the stationary bike when off the floor, and whether she appears limited when changing direction will be the clearest observable signals once the game begins.

North Dakota State’s path to the final included stretches where the margin stayed tight despite turnover pressure. The Bison led 24-22 at halftime, then opened the second half with six straight points. Still, the advantage remained in single digits late into the third quarter, with North Dakota State up 42-37 entering the fourth.

Koenen supplied the separating burst in the final period, starting an 8-0 run with two three-point plays. One of the pivotal sequences came on a steal where she picked off a pass on a dead sprint and finished a layup. A Lenz field goal pushed the lead to 50-37 with 8: 42 remaining, and North Dakota State’s biggest lead reached 14 points four minutes later.

St. Thomas forward Faith Feuerbach said St. Thomas attempted to become more aggressive and send extra attention toward Koenen, but Koenen still “found a way around it. ” For Sunday, that tactical pressure is a known challenge; the unresolved part is whether Koenen’s ankle allows her to consistently attack through contact and sustain her pace for extended stretches.

The title game itself will settle the immediate competitive question. If Koenen shows clear limitations during Sunday’s opening minutes, North Dakota State is expected to rely more heavily on contributions from players such as Molly Lenz and Marisa Frost to compensate, while still emphasizing defense and rebounding—areas head coach Jory Collins said the team prides itself on because they travel with effort.