North Dakota State plays UMKC in Summit Tournament
UMKC Kangaroos (11-20, 7-9 Summit) vs. North Dakota State Bison (19-10, 11-5 Summit)
BOTTOM LINE: North Dakota State plays in the Summit Tournament against UMKC.
The Bison are 11-5 against Summit opponents and 8-5 in non-conference play. North Dakota State is fourth in the Summit scoring 70.0 points while shooting 43.3% from the field.
The Kangaroos are 7-9 against Summit opponents. UMKC ranks ninth in the Summit shooting 29.0% from 3-point range.
North Dakota State's average of 5.9 made 3-pointers per game this season is only 0.5 fewer made shots on average than the 6.4 per game UMKC gives up. UMKC averages 65.3 points per game, 0.7 more than the 64.6 North Dakota State gives up.
The teams did not play each other during the regular season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Avery Koenen is averaging 14.1 points and 7.6 rebounds for the Bison. Abbie Draper is averaging 9.9 points over the last 10 games.
Alayna Contreras is shooting 38.0% and averaging 17.2 points for the Kangaroos. Emani Bennett is averaging 13.9 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Bison: 6-4, averaging 71.1 points, 31.4 rebounds, 11.5 assists, 6.3 steals and 3.0 blocks per game while shooting 44.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 68.6 points per game.
Kangaroos: 4-6, averaging 71.3 points, 30.7 rebounds, 9.9 assists, 5.4 steals and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 44.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 75.9 points.
___
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
7 days ago
- Associated Press
Athletes Abroad Summit Returns to Las Vegas July 8–10, 2025 at the Iconic Bellagio Hotel & Casino
Empowering American pro athletes abroad with tools for legacy, business, and personal growth—this summit is built for players, by players who win. LAS VEGAS, NV, UNITED STATES, June 5, 2025 / / -- The highly anticipated Athletes Abroad Summit returns to Las Vegas this summer, taking place July 8–10, 2025, at the iconic Bellagio Hotel & Casino—a fitting venue for high-impact conversations, global networking, and legacy-driven leadership. Held annually during the NBA Summer League, the Athletes Abroad Summit is the first and only business and personal development conference created exclusively for American athletes pursuing professional careers overseas. Now in its second year, the Summit continues to expand its global impact by bringing together a powerful community of athletes, advisors, and industry innovators. Co-founded by Dr. Tywanna Smith, an award-winning international sports advisor and former professional basketball player, and Sonny Weems, a former NBA player and three-time Chinese Basketball Champion, the Summit was launched to fill a critical gap—providing structure, strategy, and support for athletes navigating the unique challenges of international careers. Featured speakers and session leaders include: - Sonny Weems – With nearly two decades of championship experience across the NBA, EuroLeague, and Chinese Basketball Association, Sonny will lead peer-to-peer player sessions focused on winning on and off the court. - Andrea Durham, CEO of Minority Women in Sports – Advocating for global opportunities for women to play, work, and lead in sports. - Jori Davis, Founder & CEO of WeVolve – Delivering tech-driven tools for contract analysis, salary benchmarking, and agent matchmaking—created by athletes, for athletes. - Eddie Gill, Retired NBA Player – Now a financial advisor, board member of the National Retired Players Association, and analyst for the NBA and Indiana Pacers, Eddie shares key insights on long-term financial strategy and transition planning. Summit partners include: - SEICon – A next-gen sports and entertainment innovation platform. - WeVolve – A consultancy advancing leadership and culture in sports. - UFC – A proud Summit Partner supporting athlete-centered growth and opportunity. With over 10,000 American athletes competing internationally each year, the Athletes Abroad Summit is redefining what it means to win beyond the scoreboard. Through focused sessions on financial literacy, mental wellness, brand development, sports technology, and life after sport, the Summit empowers athletes to expand their global reach, protect their futures, and turn their careers into lasting legacies. Set against the backdrop of the world-famous Bellagio—renowned for its art, elegance, and energy—this year's event is poised to be the most impactful yet. Whether an athlete is actively competing overseas or preparing for their next chapter, the Athletes Abroad Summit is a must-attend experience. Register today at and be part of the global movement redefining athlete leadership——built for players, by players who win. This isn't just another event created for athletes—it's led by them. The Athletes Abroad Summit represents a powerful shift from resources being built for players to being driven by players who win. Every speaker, session, and partnership is shaped by athletes who have competed—and succeeded—on the global stage, offering real-world insights designed to help others do the same. Rachel Dares Rachel Dares PR +1 714-718-9043 email us here Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Instagram Other Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Miami Herald
03-06-2025
- Miami Herald
Saniyah King left her mark at Howard. Now she eyes success in the SEC.
Saniyah King, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, did not land at Mississippi State for the next chapter of her basketball career due to a lack of success or a winning pedigree. The ex-HBCU point guard averaged 11.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and a MEAC and Bison-best 4.5 assists per game while starting in 31 of 32 games for Howard University last season. She also dished the second-most assists (145) among freshmen in the nation behind Florida Gators guard Liv McGill. King wants to continue her basketball evolution with dreams of playing in the WNBA after college. With the departure of MSU's guards Jerkaila Jordan and Eniya Russell to graduation, and Denim DeShields taking her talents to Mississippi (Ole Miss), the Bulldogs needed another collection of elite point guards. King is what Purcell needs while also believing the Bulldogs' coach and his staff will help her fulfill her hoops dream. "My main goal [for entering the transfer portal] was development," King told HBCU Gameday. "I know [Mississippi State] is going to help me become the best version of myself." Things will look extremely different for King this fall. She spent her entire life in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region with her mother, Stacey Pettiford. However, Pettiford - an HBCU alum from Howard University - tried to get the 5'7" point guard to leave the DMV to explore her basketball dreams elsewhere. "I wanted her to go away," Pettiford said. "It's a big world out there, and she'd experienced the DMV all of her life." King wasn't ready to take her talents from the big city to a new hoops terrain. But now, as she transitions to Starkville, Mississippi, the sophomore floor general is ready to embrace her next chapter, one that will include some "peace and quiet." "I wanted to slow my life down," King said. "I don't know what life is like without hearing trains, ambulances, and cars constantly passing by. I wanted new scenery. That helps me feel at peace now." King's choice and determination to ditch familiarity for the Magnolia State would not be possible without confidence in her dream, faith in God, and the lessons learned at "The Mecca" of HBCU culture. King, who at 10 years old did not have experience hooping with an elite club team, strolled into a DMV gym for a tryout with the Lady Prime AAU basketball team, coached by then-Washington D.C. street hoops legend Lonnie Harrell. Tons of budding, young female basketball players graced the court. After a couple of drills and some intense 5-on-5 action, Harrell walked over to Pettiford and did not waste any time in his desire for King to join the team. "I remember [her tryout] like it was yesterday," Pettiford said. "Harrell was like, 'we need her' and asked 'how long had she [Saniyah] been playing?'" King's genesis in basketball began with playing with boys at the park during recess in elementary school and running a few houses down the street in her Bowie, Maryland, neighborhood to play pickup games during the week. "I didn't think I was good," King said with a laugh. Her talent reached new heights when she joined Lady Prime. That season, King and her teammates didn't lose a game. As her skills grew with Lady Prime, it later opened the door for success at Bishop Ireton - a private Catholic high school in Alexandria, Virginia - as well as on the AAU circuit playing for Team Durant EYBL, named after 15-time NBA All-Star and DMV native Kevin Durant. However, a "turning point" in her personal development came during the height of the coronavirus pandemic when she completed workout sessions three times per day with Joshua Morgan-Green, the founder of the Triple Threat training regimen based in Annapolis Junction, Maryland. "I was probably there from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.," King said. "When I was younger, I was always stronger and a little faster than my peers. That summer, I really got skilled. My ball handling went to a different level, I perfected my shot, and learned how to work. He [Green] changed my life." King entered the Washington, D.C.-based HBCU after excelling in the classroom as an AP scholar and becoming one of the top 15 point guards in Virginia for assists per game. She held a long lineage of Howard pride in her family. Pettiford, one of King's 11 family members to attend HU, played a key part in her daughter's interest in attending Howard after many years of taking King to basketball games and events on the HBCU campus. King, who had spent all of 18 years of her life living with her mom prior to attending HU, saw Pettiford depart the DMV to move to Atlanta during her freshman year. "When I was at home with her [Pettiford] every day, I would spend most of my time in my room," King said with a laugh. "Seeing her leave helped me mature emotionally." With a 10-hour trek separating the two, King began to realize the lessons Pettiford shared with her about life, time management, and avoiding worldly distractions in pursuit of her dreams, both on and off the court. However, when she entered the gates of the renowned Main Quadrangle, walked across The Yard or stepped inside Frederick Douglas Memorial Hall and Burr Gymnasium for the first time, she quickly found out that Howard was the epitome of "Black excellence" but also a place where she had to grow up and balance a myriad of priorities as a student athlete. "I underestimated college," King said. "Howard helped me come to that realization very fast. It wasn't the normal college experience. … Howard really prepares you for the real world." While pursuing a degree in psychology, King navigated her way as the only freshman on a veteran HBCU women's basketball program - coached by Ty Grace - that featured a combined dozen seniors and grad transfer players, including her friend and teammate, Destiny Howell, the Bison's leading scorer in 2024. "Saniyah is just the player you enjoy and want to play with," Howell previously told Howard Athletics consultant Rob Knox in December. "The first thing I noticed about her is that she is not scared of work, she does not duck no smoke. …She is a good person, making it easier to be a good teammate." King shared similar sentiments about Howell and also credited her leadership. "Destiny [Howell] always sat and watched game film with me and offered encouraging words," King said. "She would tell me that I'm "HER" and to walk like it." But with Pettiford away and a surplus of daily college life distractions around her, it forced King to find herself while remaining focused on her goals in the classroom as well as becoming the best point guard on the hardwood. King leaned into her faith in God to navigate her challenges. Each day, she logged into Instagram, swiped to her bio section and visited one of her highlights named Daily Words of Encouragement (DWOE), which listed her favorite Bible verses and quotes. One of her go-to scriptures comes from Matthew 19:26, which reads, "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'" As her freshman season progressed, when she wasn't in class, at practice, or lifting weights with her teammates, she watched sermons and read the Bible, drawing closer to God when she was unable to attend Sunday services at Kingdom Fellowship AME Church in Silver Springs, Maryland. "I was in a place where I had to find and put God at the forefront of my life," King said. "His presence in my life strengthened my mindset and my vision to conquer my goals." As King embraced her walk with God, she matured in the face of adversity. King, who became a force for Howard in HBCU women's basketball, captured Rookie of the Week honors 11 times. With three games remaining against North Carolina Central, South Carolina State, and the defending MEAC champions Norfolk State, Howard sat in second place (17-9) in the MEAC standings. The Bison entered their clash with NCCU, winners of seven consecutive contests and 10 of their last 11 games since league play began on Jan. 4. And for King, her focus remained on finishing the season strong and getting another chance to face the Spartans. However, things took a twist for the Bison point guard. King injured her left foot in Howard's 74-51 victory against the Eagles, sidelining her for the final games of the regular season. She wasn't a stranger to foot injuries. King struggled with bone bruises over the years due to the absence of an arch in her feet. But with the MEAC tournament around the corner, her shot at helping Howard dethrone the Spartans and securing an automatic bid in the women's NCAA tournament remained in motion. However, with an injury comes a wave of emotions and physical challenges. When she returned to the court for the league tourney - specifically in Howard's matchup against Maryland Eastern Shore in the MEAC semifinals - King didn't feel like herself on the court. "I played a little scared," King said. "I wasn't trying to land a certain way [on my foot] and I kept thinking about that. That's not my usual mindset." HU's win set up the MEAC title against the Spartans and future 2025 WNBA signee Diamond Johnson, a player whom King respected, studied, and watched from afar throughout her college career in the Big Ten and HBCU hoops. But like the first two contests, NSU defeated Howard 68-56, ending the Bison's NCAA tourney hopes. "This was supposed to be the time that I shined [on the court]," King said. "It was almost like they [Spartans] had every single play we tried to run rehearsed." Still, the Bison received an automatic qualifying bid to the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT), defeating Siena at home in the first round before losing to Charleston in the second round. Despite the loss, King felt like she took a step forward in her progression after the injury. "My shot was falling, it was like I had woken back up," she said. As King transitions to Starkville, she's embracing the progression of her game. Her daily 7 a.m. workouts include weight lifting, watching film, listening to basketball podcasts as well as improving her technique and feel for reading ball screens and elevating her shooting percentage from beyond the arc. "I hate waking up early," King said. "But since the season ended, I continued that habit. … Losing in the [MEAC] tournament and heading to a new school has inspired me to work even harder this summer. I want to improve my vision to open up the floor more for my teammates." King will have the opportunity to upgrade those skills and more as one of the Bulldogs' floor generals, in addition to pursuing a business degree at MSU. As she navigates her process, King is catching up on family time with her grandfather - who never missed her home games - and spending time with her four little brothers all under the age of 12. She's also going on nail appointments, along with brunch and dinner dates with Pettiford. And when the two aren't tasting new foods at a restaurant, King is whipping up delightful meals in the kitchen, featuring entrées like whole fish, alfredo, roasted Branzino, along with an occasional sweet potato casserole. "She's really a whole chef," Pettiford said with a laugh. "Cooking in the kitchen and on the court." For King, Howard University and her time in HBCU basketball symbolized family on multiple fronts. While she won't walk across The Yard every day this fall, she will take the memories of her teammates and a stronger relationship with Pettiford to Mississippi for a new beginning. "God gave me the older sisters I always wanted but I never had when he brought me to Howard," King said. I love and will miss them all. The post Saniyah King left her mark at Howard. Now she eyes success in the SEC. appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Axios
03-06-2025
- Axios
Your weekend plans: Music photography, baseball tournament, spring market
We're in full blown summer mode now. Make the most of these weekends. ⚾️ Baseball tournament — The Arkansas Razorbacks play against North Dakota State in the first game of the NCAA tournament at 2pm today in Fayetteville. Watch on ESPN. The Hogs are looking to have a full weekend of wins. See the tournament schedule. 📷 Photography exhibits — Two exhibits — "Front Row Center: Icons of Rock, Blues, and Soul" and "The Prison Concerts: Folsom And San Quentin (Jim Marshall's Photographs Of Johnny Cash)" are on display at The Momentary in Bentonville. Free. They're available until Oct. 12.
