Bison basketball team faces another strong squad

(WDAY Sports) - Carolyn DeHoff isn't giving her team a chance to get soft with the holidays approaching. The Bison women’s basketball team has already faced strong squads from the Mountain West, Missouri Valley and Horizon leagues, now tonight a bout with the Big 10 Minnesota Gophers.

Welcome to historic Williams Arena where the Bison will try to knock off the Gophers for the second time in four years. Earlier I spoke with Carolyn DeHoff and asked how she will get her team ready for the big stage.

“There's going to be great support, they fill that barn, but we'll have a good number that will watch us as well so get the crowd quiet and get our crowd into it. It's a great environment for basketball.”

You've played a bear of a non-conference schedule, including tonight, how can that help with a young team.

“Well, the games we've played have been different match-ups each game. We played well for 35 minutes against Wyoming and had some stretches there we can change and make better and let's see what we can do against the Gophers.”

What is going to be the key to get a win?

“They got on us early last year and forced us into some turnovers and so if we can settle the tempo down take care of the basketball make some free throws, we'll have a chance at the end.”

Minnesota has lost just once this year, to Utah by one point. A team DeHoff knows well, she was an assistant with Utah before joining NDSU. The Bison are 1-2; the Gophers are 3-1.

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