SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Summit League women wrapped up the Big Sky-Summit Challenge with a 9-9 mark last week with St. Thomas, South Dakota, and South Dakota State tipping off today to open week six of the season.
 
North Dakota State, Oral Roberts, St. Thomas, and South Dakota State each went 2-0 during this year's challenge and will look to build on that momentum with Summit League play looming just a few weeks away.
 
All nine squads will be in action over the coming week, highlighted by Denver’s trip to Lawrence for a Power 4 contest against the Jayhawks on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 2 p.m.
 
AROUND THE LEAGUE
• Four of nine Summit squads completed a 2-0 sweep in the Big Sky-Summit Challenge (NDSU, ORU, UST, SDSU).
• South Dakota split the Big Sky-Summit Challenge after taking down Portland State on the road Wednesday (75-51) before falling to Eastern Washington in Vermillion (67-63) on Saturday.
• Senior guard Angelina Robles poured in a season-high 23 points in the win over the Vikings, while Patience Williams and Elise Turrubiates each narrowly missed double-doubles, finishing one rebound shy.
• Preseason Player of the Year Brooklyn Meyer averaged a league-best 23.5 ppg during the challenge as the Jacks went 2-0 with wins over Weber State (87-56) and Northern Arizona (88-72).
• The senior tandem of Meyer and Mathiowetz each scored 28 points against NAU, with Mathiowetz posting a career-high for SDSU.
• Redshirt sophomore Hilary Behrens added a career performance of her own with eight rebounds, while redshirt freshman Mahli Abdouch dished out a career-high seven assists in her first collegiate start.
• After opening the season 2-2, North Dakota State pushed its win streak to a league-best five, going 2-0 in the challenge with victories over Montana State (90-65) and Weber State (79-72). The Bobcats entered the matchup ranked seventh in CollegeInsider.com’s Mid-Major Top 25 poll.
• Five different Bison connected from beyond the arc against Montana State, drilling a season-high 11 three-pointers and handing the Bobcats their largest loss of the season.
• Forward Karrington Asp notched her first career double-double against MSU, finishing with a season-high 18 points and 10 rebounds, while standout Avery Koenen recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 boards.
• Following the victories, NDSU moved to No. 23 in the CollegeInsiders.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll.
• The Tommies are riding a three-game win streak, highlighted by their first Division I victory of the season over Northern Arizona at home (74-66) and a big road win against Montana (81-65).
• UST graduate Jada Hood leads the league in assists with 3.9 apg.
• Denver fell in both contests in the challenge before defeating Metro State 92-68, marking head coach Doshia Woods’ 50th career win.
• Sophomore guard Coryn Watts continues to lead the Pioneers offensively, averaging 20.1 points per game and ranking second in the conference after recording a career-best 30 points against MSU.
• Brooke Murrell added a career-high 15 boards in the contest.
• KC dropped both contests in the Big Sky-Summit Challenge to Northern Colorado and Portland State.
• The Roos are struggling away from home, posting an 0-4 road record compared to a 2-3 mark at home.
• In the loss, Emani Bennett poured in a team-high 27 points, marking her third game of 20-plus points this season.
• North Dakota fell in both challenge games this past week before having its contest against Bismarck State postponed on Tuesday due to weather.
• UND’s Walker Demers pulls down 9.3 rpg, ranking third in the league.
• Ava Miller continues to own the glass for North Dakota, averaging 8.4 rpg (fifth in the Summit League) and 7.8 defensive boards per contest, a mark that sits tied for 15th nationally.
• Omaha fell to No. 23 Nebraska Tuesday night, extending its losing streak to eight. The Mavs are back in action Sunday at Western Illinois.
• Sarai Estupiñan and Avril Smith have been stellar for Omaha with Estupiñan averaging 15.0 ppg (eighth in the league) and Smith grabbing 10.0 rpg (first in the league).

This Week In The Summit League
Date | Stream/TV | Local Time
Wednesday, Dec. 10
South Dakota at Bradley | ESPN+ | 11 a.m. CT
(NR/RV) SDSU at Northern Iowa | ESPN+ | 6 p.m. CT
Crown at St. Thomas | SLN | 7 p.m. CT
 
Thursday, Dec. 11
North Dakota State at Eastern Illinois | ESPN+ | 6 p.m. CT

Saturday, Dec. 13
Omaha at Western Illinois | ESPN+ | 1 p.m. CT
Drake at St. Thomas | SLN | 1 p.m. CT
Utah Valley at Kansas City | SLN | 1 p.m. CT

Sunday, Dec. 14
Western Kentucky at North Dakota | SLN | 12 p.m. CT
Ball State at (NR/RV) South Dakota State | SLN | 2 p.m. CT
Denver at Kansas | ESPN+ | 2 p.m. CT

Tuesday, Dec. 16
North Dakota State at Pepperdine | ESPN+ | 10 a.m. PT
Oral Roberts at Wichita State | ESPN+ | 11 a.m. CT

Key: ESPN+ (ESPN Plus), SLN (Summit League Network)
 
Rankings: (AP/Coaches) | * Summit League game
 
RESULTS
Big Sky-Summit Challenge
Wednesday, Dec. 3
Northern Arizona 66, St. Thomas 74
Oral Roberts 92, Idaho 89
Kansas City 59, Northern Colorado 72
Denver 65, Eastern Washington 66
Weber State 56, (NR/RV) South Dakota State 87
Montana 86, North Dakota 56
Montana State 65, North Dakota State 90
Omaha 43, Idaho State 74
South Dakota 75, Portland State 51
 
Big Sky-Summit Challenge
Saturday, Dec. 6
Idaho 84, Denver 54
North Dakota State 79, Weber State 72
Northern Colorado 71, Omaha 60
Eastern Washington 67, South Dakota 63
Portland State 85 Kansas City 79
Idaho State 58, Oral Roberts 68
(NR/RV) South Dakota State 88, Northern Arizona 72
St. Thomas 81, Montana 65
North Dakota 57, Montana State 99

Tuesday, Dec. 9
Metro State 68, Denver 92
Omaha 35, (24/RV) Nebraska 87
 
Rankings: (AP/Coaches) | * Summit League game
 
#SummitWBB