The NCAA News - News and Features

March 30, 1998

North Dakota meets the challenge to take II women's basketball title

North Dakota answered the challenge of repeating as champion by playing its best game of the season in the final and winning the Division II Women's Basketball Championship March 21 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

The Fighting Sioux led at half time by eight points before a crowd of 2,624 fans and never looked back as they defeated Emporia State, 92-76.

"For 40 minutes, considering both offense and defense, that was our best basketball game of the season," North Dakota coach Gene Roebuck said about the game.

"We were challenged and had targets on our backs," he said. "We rose to the occasion."

North Dakota was led by Mandy Arndtson, who had 23 points and 10 rebounds.

"Mandy is a player who is only a freshman, but doesn't play like a freshman," Roebuck said. "She loves the game of basketball. When you need her the most, that's when she steps up."

Jaime Pudenz and Tiffany Pudenz contributed 16 and 18 points, respectively. Jenny Crouse joined Arndtson in posting "double-doubles" with her 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Emporia State's leading scorer was Jurgita Kausaite with 21. Sister Aneta Kausaite contributed 19 points as the Lady Hornets lost their first game of the year. In quarterfinal play, North Dakota defeated Bentley, 71-56; Emporia State beat Shippensburg, 122-84; Northern Michigan defeated Seattle Pacific, 86-56; and Francis Marion beat Arkansas Tech, 69-61 in overtime.

North Dakota then advanced to the final with a 79-69 victory over Northern Michigan and Emporia State advanced with a 90-75 win over Francis Marion.

The all-tournament team included Arndtson, Crouse and Jaime Pudenz of North Dakota; Jurgita and Aneta Kausaite of Emporia State; and Jennifer Barbson of Francis Marion. Crouse was named the most outstanding player.

SEMIFINALS

North Dak. 79, Northern Mich. 69

North Dak.: Jaime Pudenz 6-10, 4-5, 3, 19; Tiffany Pudenz 4-12, 4-5, 4, 13; Elisha Kabanuk 0-3, 0-0, 3, 0; Katie Richards 7-11, 2-3, 6, 19; Jenny Crouse 5-6, 7-10, 22,17; Mandy Arndtson 1-4, 3-4, 1, 6; Tonia Jones 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0; Kami Winger 1-2, 3-5, 5, 5. TOTALS: 24-48, 23-32, 48, 79.

Northern Mich.: Jill Tunney 0-5, 0-0, 3, 0; Jennifer Johnston 2-4, 1-2, 3, 6; Kris Manske 5-11, 1-2, 5, 12; Carrie Dykstra 6-15, 5-5, 6, 17; Mandes Dafoe 9-29, 5-8, 5, 24; Karla Strand 3-11, 2-3, 5, 8; Ginger Weber 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0; Stephanie Edgarton 1-1, 0-0, 0, 2; Sasha Leverentz 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. TOTALS: 26-76, 14-20, 35, 69.

Half time: North Dak. 43, Northern Mich. 32. Three-point field goals: North Dak. 8-21 (J. Pudenz 3-5, T. Pudenz 1-6, Kabanuk 0-2, Richards 3-4, Arndtson 1-4); Northern Mich. 3-18 (Tunney 0-2, Johnston 1-2, Manske 1-5, Dafoe 1-7, Strand 0-2). Disqualifications: Dafoe. Officials: Lisa Pitts, Cindy Knepp, Angie Enlund. Attendance: 2,200.

Emporia St. 90, Francis Marion 75

Emporia St.: Shanna Spann 2-6, 0-0, 2, 5; Jurgita Kausaite 10-17, 7-9, 11, 27; Aneta Kausaite 7-16, 4-4, 3, 21; Amanda Flick 2-5, 2-2, 5,12; Nicole Dinkins 5-14, 2-2, 5, 12; Tara Holloway 3-3, 0-0, 5, 6; La'Tonya Kindle 1-2, 0-0, 3, 2; Jennifer Perine 0-0, 0-2, 0, 0; Emily Bloss 2-5, 6-8, 5, 10; Amanda Duncan 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. TOTALS: 32-68, 21-27, 40, 90.

Francis Marion: Damita Bullock 8-14, 30-8, 7, 22; Jennifer Puckett 1-1, 0-0, 1, 3; Christy Wright 1-8, 3-5, 1, 5; Chiffonia Adderson 8-16, 5-9, 10, 21; Jennifer Brabson 7-14, 7-8, 7, 21; Megan Duran 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0; Anna Kolbinsky 0-1, 1-2, 1, 1; Nikki Wolfe 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0; Tracy McIntosh 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0; Kristie Tecson 1-1, 0-0, 0, 2. TOTALS: 26-55, 19-32, 34, 75.

Half time: Emporia St. 45, Francis Marion 31. Three-point field goals: Emporia St. 5-12 (Spann 1-2, Aneta Kausaite 3-7, Flick 1-2, Kindle 0-1); Francis Marion 4-11 (Bullock 3-4, Puckett 1-1, Wright 0-3, Brabson 0-3). Disqualifications: Brabson. Officials: Mark Bless, Brenda Holmgren, Mike Larsen. Attendance 2,200.

CHAMPIONSHIP

North Dak. 92, Emporia St. 76

Emporia St.: Shanna Spann 1-2, 4-6, 1, 6; Jurgita Kausaite 5-17, 11-11, 16, 21; Aneta Kausaite 8-14, 0-0, 3, 19; Amanda Flick 1-5, 0-0, 4, 2; Nicole Dinkins 3-17, 5-8, 9, 11; Tara Holloway 4-6, 0-0, 5, 9; Emily Bloss 1-6, 3-5, 4, 5; La'Tonya Kindle 1-2, 1-3, 1, 3; Jennifer Perine 0-2, 0-0, 2, 0; Amanda Duncan 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. TOTALS: 24-71, 24-33, 47, 76.

North Dak.: Jaime Pudenz 4-9, 7-11, 3, 16; Tiffany Pudenz 5-13, 6-8, 1, 18; Elisha Kabanuk 0-2, 0-0, 5, 0; Katie Richards 3-7, 2-6, 3, 9; Jenny Crouse 7-10, 3-4, 10, 17; Tonia Jones 1-3, 1-2, 1,3; Kami Winger 3-6, 0-0, 6, 6; Mandy Arndtson 7-8, 7-9, 10, 23. TOTALS: 30-58, 26-40, 40, 92.

Half time: North Dak. 40, Emporia St. 32. Three-point field goals: Emporia St. 4-10 (J. Kausaite 0-1, A. Kausaite 3-6, Holloway 1-1, Kindle 0-1, Perine 0-1); North Dak. 6-16 (J. Pudenz 1-2, T. Pudenz 2-7, Kabanuk 0-1, Richards 1-3, Arndtson 2-3). Disqualifications: Spann, Holloway, T. Pudenz. Officials: Lisa Pitts, Cindy Knepp, Angie Enlund. Attendance: 2,624.