A hard-fought victory comes in overtime as NDSU edges Pepperdine 82-80
MALIBU, Calif. — The North Dakota State women’s basketball team battled back from a late deficit in the fourth quarter, forcing overtime to claim an 82-80 win over Pepperdine at the Malibu Classic inside Firestone Fieldhouse on Tuesday.
The win extends NDSU’s winning streak to seven games and improves the team’s record to 9-2, marking the best 11-game start since the 2020-21 season. Pepperdine falls to 7-3 overall.
Avery Koenen delivered a stellar performance, recording her fifth consecutive double-double with a season-best 29 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. The Montevideo, Minnesota product also went 13-of-16 from the free-throw line, adding two assists and two steals across 38 minutes. Her 13 successful free throws tie for sixth-most in a single game in Bison history.
Jocelyn Schiller added 15 points on the night, hitting 6-of-7 from the charity stripe and dishing out a team-best three assists. Marisa Frost contributed 14 points in 42 minutes, contributing to a balanced attack.
Overall, NDSU shot 38.8 percent from the floor (26-for-67) and earned 26 free throws on 34 attempts (76.5%). The Bison attacked the paint for 42 points and created 20 points off Pepperdine’s miscues.
After building a 9-point lead to end the first half at 37-28, Pepperdine surged to start the third period with a 15-4 run, flipping the scoreboard to take a 43-41 advantage when Meghan Fiso knocked down a jumper at 5:25. The teams traded points through the fourth quarter, and NDSU managed an 8-2 close over the final 3:42, capped by a Molly Lenz free throw to force overtime at 70-70.
In the extra period, the Bison started with a 7-2 burst, with Schiller contributing five of those points to push the lead to 77-72 with 3:01 left. Pepperdine trimmed it to two after Elli Guiney’s layup with five seconds remaining, but NDSU closed out the clock to seal the 82-80 victory.
Next up, NDSU finishes Malibu Classic play against UTRGV, with tip-off scheduled for 4:00 p.m. CT.
