November 19, 2024

BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Star Athletic Association announced their third edition (games included from Nov. 11 through Nov. 17) of the 2024-25 Women’s Basketball Players-of-the-Week Tuesday.  Mayville State (N.D.) swept the weekly honors with Mackenzie Hughes being selected as the Offensive Player-of-the-Week, while her teammate Jes Mertens being named as the Defensive Player-of-the-Week.

North Star Athletic Association Women’s Basketball Player-of-the-Week - Offense
Mackenzie Hughes – Mayville State (N.D.) – 5’5” – Senior – guard – Thompson, N.D. – Hughes poured in 51 total points for the week as No. 14 ranked Mayville State (N.D.) went 1-1 record in Montana.  She scored 23 points and dished out six assists in MSU’s 89-79 setback at Montana Tech.  She followed up with 28 points on her 11-of-20 field goals, including 4-of-7 from the 3-point arc.  She also had three assists in the game.  For the week, Hughes averaged 25.5 points per game and 4.5 assists per game.

North Star Athletic Association Women’s Basketball Player-of-the-Week - Defense
Jes Mertens – Mayville State (N.D.) – 5’9” – Graduate Student – guard – Devils Lake, N.D. – Mertens averaged 5.0 steals (10 total steals) and 2.5 blocks (5 total blocks) per game as No. 14 ranked Mayville State (N.D.) earned a split in Montana.  She registered five blocks and stole the ball four times, despite Comets’ 89-79 setback at Montana Tech.  She followed up with six steals in MSU’s 80-76 victory at Montana Western.  Mertens also grabbed five defensive rebounds in both games (10 total defensive rebounds for the week).

Recap from last week’s games
Bellevue (Neb.) went 1-1 record for the week, falling short at home in overtime to Hastings Neb.) 81-77 on Nov. 12.  The Bruins earned a 63-60 victory at William Woods (Mo.) on Nov. 15.  Bellevue is 5-1 record this season.

Jamestown (N.D.), receiving votes in the first edition of the NAIA Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 national poll, remained at 3-1 overall record after their 88-50 exhibition defeat to NCAA Division I North Dakota State on Nov. 15.

Mayville State (N.D.), who climbed two spots to No. 14 in the national poll, went 1-1 record in the state of Montana.  The Comets fell short to Montana Tech 89-79 on Nov. 14 and earned an 80-76 victory at Montana Western on Nov. 15.  MSU is 3-1 overall record.

Valley City State (N.D.) dropped a 92-63 road contest at No. 11 ranked Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) on Nov. 12.  The Vikings played in a three-day tournament in Lawrence, Kan., last weekend.  VCSU opened the tournament with a 65-56 victory over Northern New Mexico on Nov. 15 and fell to host-team Haskell (Kan.) 79-53 on Nov. 16.  The Vikings closed the tournament with a 96-34 victory over Barclay (Kan.).  Valley City State is 6-3 overall record.

Dakota State (S.D.), who is No. 7 in the national poll, went 1-1 record for the week.  The Trojans fell short to NAIA’s national defending champion and No. 1 ranked Dordt (Iowa) 79-76 at the Sanford Sports Complex in Sioux Falls, S.D.  DaSU earned a 101-63 home victory over NCAA Division III Minnesota-Morris on Nov. 16.  Dakota State is 3-3 overall record.

Dickinson State (N.D.) played a pair of exhibition games last week in Bismarck, N.D., falling to NCAA Division I North Dakota 77-58 on Nov. 12 and Mary (N.D.) 70-56 on Nov. 14.  The Blue Hawks remain at 3-3 overall record.

Looking Ahead This Week
Bellevue (Neb.) played an exhibition game at NCAA Division I South Dakota on Monday.  Dickinson State (N.D.) traveled to Montana State-Northern on the same day.

No. 14 ranked Mayville State (N.D.) returns home Tuesday as they host Trinity Bible (N.D.).  (RV) Jamestown (N.D.) is at home versus NCAA Division II Minot State (N.D.).
Mayville State travels to Minot State on Wednesday evening.

Valley City State (N.D.) plays an exhibition game at NCAA Division II Bemidji State (Minn.) on Saturday. 

            Monday’s Games
            Bellevue (Neb.) @ South Dakota – 11 a.m. EXHIBITION GAME
            Dickinson State (N.D.) @ Montana State-Northern – 6 p.m. (Central Time)/5 p.m. (Mountain Time)

            Tuesday’s Games
            Trinity Bible (N.D.) @ (14) Mayville State (N.D.) – 5:30 p.m.
            Minot State (N.D.) @ Jamestown (N.D.) – 6 p.m.

            Wednesday’s Game
            (14) Mayville State (N.D.) @ Minot State (N.D.) – 5:30 p.m.

            Saturday’s Game
            Valley City State (N.D.) @ Bemidji State (Minn.) – 12 p.m. EXHIBITION GAME
                       
NSAA Women’s Basketball Conference Standings
 

School	Overall Record	NSAA Record	Games Behind	Streak
Bellevue (Neb.)	5-1	0-0	---	Won 1
(RV) Jamestown (N.D.)	3-1	0-0	----	Won 1
(14) Mayville State (N.D.)	3-1	0-0	----	Won 1
Valley City State (N.D.)	6-3	0-0	---	Won 1
(7) Dakota State (S.D.)	3-3	0-0	----	Won 1
Dickinson State (N.D.)	3-3	0-0	----	Lost 2