No. 1 North Dakota State got past No. 5 St. Thomas in the semifinal round of the 2026 Summit League Women’s Basketball Championships Saturday in Sioux Falls, 63-51.
St. Thomas opened the semifinal matchup with a 10-6 run. After the Tommies stretched the lead to seven, the Bison came roaring back to get within three. Alyssa Sand put up nine points in the first for UST, while NDSU was led by eight points from Avery Koenen.
The Bison came out of the break on a 4-0 run to take a one-point lead, thanks to a fast-break bucket from Koenen. After consecutive turnovers and 10 turnovers in the first 13 minutes, Tommies Head Coach Ruth Sinn called a timeout to talk things over.
NDSU held UST scoreless for the first five minutes of the second quarter, going into the locker room with a 24-22 lead.
The Bison came out looking like themselves in the third, opening the frame with a 6-0 run. Despite losing momentum, The Tommies would not go away. NDSU held a 42-37 lead going into the final frame.
Koenen started the fourth quarter ready to seal the win, with two buckets plus the foul shot after each, quickly giving the Bison a 10-point lead. St. Thomas then turned the ball over for the 18th time. The Tommies cut the lead to nine, but ultimately could not overcome the conference’s top team. NDSU earned its championship appearance with a 63-51 win.
The Bison were led by Koenen’s 31 points and eight rebounds. Marisa Frost and Molly Lenz combined for 17 points. The Tommies were led by Jada Hood’s 17 points. Alyssa Sand added 15 points.
NDSU head coach Jory Collins reflected on the game and praised Koenen’s recovery from Thursday’s sprained ankle.
“I thought we were a little slow getting off to a start today.. I thought we guarded really well in the first half… obviously Avery coming off her ankle, everybody was questioning how she was going to be. I think she answered that pretty easily.”
Koenen spoke about how nothing is stopping her this week.
“I knew that I would have to, you know, suck it up and show up for my team today. I’m just ready to go.”
Abby Krzewinski praised the Bison defensive effort.
“I think we pride ourselves on our defense… We know that we have something that can always be consistent… This is what this team has worked for all year. We know that we’re capable.”
The No. 1 Bison and Summit League Player of the Year, Avery Koenen, will take on No. 2 South Dakota State in the championship game on Sunday in Sioux Falls.
The end of St. Thomas’ season is overshadowed by the retirement of long-time Tommie head coach Ruth Sinn. She shared how proud she was of her team throughout the season.
“When your season is finished, it’s not about the game anymore. It’s about…all that we have to be proud of. Look what they achieved. They did that through trust, they did that through constant development, improvement, and growth.”
Graduating student-athlete Jada Hood commended the determination Coach Sinn instilled in her team.
“I’ve never wanted to work harder for anyone.”
Sinn coached the Tommies for 21 years. Her accolades include 417 wins, nine MIAC Tournament Championships (DIII), 4 MIAC Coach of the Year awards, and a 1992 Tommie Hall of Fame induction. She shared the details of how she got her start in basketball with us.
“My mom passed away two years ago. I was going to be a cheerleader… I got cut, and I was just devastated, and my mom was the kind of person that was, when one door closes, another one can open, and so she called the principal, okay, Sister Margaret, and she said ‘the Catholic Schools Association has basketball teams, girls basketball teams, and St. Peters does not. We got our neighborhood friend, who coached the team, Larry O’Connor, and we started a girls basketball team for St. Pete’s. Kind of the rest is history. I fell in love with the game… I guess I never left.”