BISMARCK, ND (PlayNorthStar.com) [WBB] – The North Star Athletic Association announced their tenth installment of the 2024-25 Women’s Basketball Players-of-the-Week Monday.  Bria Wasmund of Dakota State (S.D.) was selected as the Offense Player-of-the-Week.  Jes Mertens of Mayville State (N.D.) was chosen as the Defense Player-of-the-Week.

North Star Athletic Association Women’s Basketball Player-of-the-Week – Offense
Bria Wasmund – Dakota State (S.D.) – 5’5” – Sophomore – guard – Sibley, Iowa – Wasmund scored a career-high 23 points in helping No. 6 ranked Dakota State (S.D.) to their ninth straight victory, edging Bellevue (Neb.) 67-59 to become the lone undefeated team in the North Star Athletic Association.  She was 8-of-14 from the field, including 4-of-7 from the 3-pont line, and hit 3-of-4 free throws.  Wasmund also dished out three assists in Trojans’ lone contest of the week.

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, Minn. – Mertens racked up 24 steals, 27 defensive rebounds, and seven blocked shots in fueling No. 22 Mayville State (N.D.) to a 3-0 record for the week.   She stole the ball 10 times, collected eight defensive rebounds, and registered two blocks in MSU’s 66-58 victory over Midland (Neb.).  She followed up with seven steals, four defensive rebounds, and two blocks in Comest’ 67-46 win over Dickinson State (N.D.).  She closed the week with seven steals, three blocks, and pulled down a career-high 15 defensive rebounds in 77-72 victory over No. 24 Jamestown (N.D.).  For the week, Mertens averaged 9.0 defensive rebounds, 8.0 steals, and 2.3 blocks per game.

Recap from last week’s games
Dakota State (S.D.), ranked No. 6 in the latest NAIA Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 national poll, extended their winning streak to nine games after defeating Bellevue (Neb.) 67-59 on Jan. 4.  It was the lone game of the week for the Trojans as they lifted their overall record to 11-3 and 3-0 NSAA conference record.

The Bruins closed their non-conference schedule with a split in their home tournament, falling short to Doane (Neb.) 76-75 on Dec. 30.  BU is 10-5 overall record and 2-1 NSAA conference record.

Jamestown (N.D.), ranked No. 24 in the national poll, split a pair of North Star Athletic Association contests on the road.  The Jimmies defeated Valley City State (N.D.) 72-54 on Jan. 3 and fell to No. 22 Mayville State (N.D.) 77-7 2on Jan. 4 in the battle of NAIA Top 25 nationally ranked teams.  MSU ended UJ’s 10-game winning streak.  Jamestown is 12-2 overall record and 2-1 record in the league.

The Comets closed their non-conference schedule with a 66-58 victory in the Bellevue’s tournament on Dec. 30.  Mayville State earned their first conference win of the season with a 67-46 home victory over Dickinson State (N.D.) on Jan. 3.  MSU is currently on a four-game winning streak, raising their overall record to 12-4 and 2-2 record in the North Star.

VCSU earned their first league win of the season on Jan. 4 as they defeated DiSU 79-52.  The Vikings are 9-7 overall record and 1-3 NSAA conference record.  The Blue Hawks are 5-9 overall record and 0-3 record in the league.

Looking Ahead This Week
The North Star Athletic Association women’s basketball first round of round robin action concludes this weekend.  No. 22 Mayville State (N.D.) heads to Valley City State (N.D.), while Bellevue (Neb.) visits No. 24 Jamestown (N.D.), and Dickinson State (N.D.) hosts No. 6 Dakota State (S.D.) on Friday evening.

Bellevue and Dakota State switch places on Saturday with Dickinson State and Jamestown (BU at DiSU and DaSU at UJ).

                Friday’s Games
(22) Mayville State (N.D.) @ Valley City State (N.D.) – 5:30 p.m.
Bellevue (Neb.) @ (24) Jamestown (N.D.) – 5:30 p.m.
(6) Dakota State (S.D.) @ Dickinson State (N.D.) – 6:30 p.m. (Central Time)/5:30 p.m. (Mountain Time)

                Saturday’s Games
(6) Dakota State (S.D.) @ (24) Jamestown (N.D.) – 3 p.m.
Bellevue (Neb.) @ Dickinson State (N.D.) – 4 p.m. (Mountain Time)/3 p.m. (Central Time)
                       
NSAA Women’s Basketball Conference Standings

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BISMARCK, ND (PlayNorthStar.com) [MBB] – The North Star Athletic Association announced their tenth edition of the 2024-25 Men’s Basketball Players-of-the-Week Monday.  Jamestown (N.D.) swept the weekly honors as Silas Bennion was named as the Offense Player-of-the-Week, while his teammate Jimmy Llinas was selected as the Defense Player-of-the-Week.

North Star Athletic Association Men’s Basketball Player-of-the-Week – Offense
Silas Bennion – Jamestown (N.D.) – 6’1″ – Senior – guard – Eugene, Ore. – Bennion averaged 20.5 points and 8.0 assists per game as Jamestown (N.D.) kicked off the 2025 year with a 2-0 record.  He scored 22 points on his 9-of-12 field goals and 2-of-2 free throws in Jimmies’ 85-81 road victory at Valley City State (N.D.).  Bennion contributed seven assists in the game.  He followed up with 19 points on his 8-of-15 field goals and 2-of-2 free throws with nine assists in Jamestown’s 87-72 victory at Mayville State.  For the week, Bennion shot 63 percent from the field (17-of-27 field goals), hit 3-of-6 3-pointers, and made all four free throws.  He totaled 41 points and 16 assists for the week.

North Star Athletic Association Men’s Basketball Player-of-the-Week – Defense
Jimmy Llinas – Jamestown (N.D.) – 6’8″ – Senior – forward – Port Saint Lucie, Fla. – Llinas averaged 6.5 defensive rebounds, 2.5 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game as Jamestown (N.D.) went 2-0 record on the road to start the 2025 calendar year.  He pulled down nine rebounds (6 defense), registered two blocks and stole the ball in UJ’s 85-81 victory at Valley City State (N.D.).  He added eight rebounds (7 defense), tallied three blocks, and recorded two steals in Jimmies’ 87-72 win at Mayville State (N.D.).  For the week, Llinas totaled 13 defensive rebounds, five blocks, and three steals.

Recap from last week’s games
Dickinson State (N.D.) remained undefeated in the North Star Athletic Association action after going 2-0 record on the road.  The Blue Hawks defeated Mayville State (N.D.) 89-85 in double overtime on defeated Valley City State (N.D.) 72-51 on Jan. 4.  DiSU improved their overall record to 8-7 and 3-0 NSAA conference record.

MSU, who closed the Bellevue (Neb.) tournament with a 99-76 victory over Haskell (Kan.) on Dec. 30, fell to Jamestown (N.D.) by the score of 87-72 on Jan. 4.  Mayville State is 11-6 overall record and 2-2 NSAA conference record.

The Jimmies kicked off the New Year by going 2-0 record on the road in the North Star conference, earning an 85-81 victory at Valley City State on Jan. 3.  UJ is 7-9 overall record and 2-1 record in the league, while VCSU is 10-6 overall record and 1-3 record in the North Star.

Bellevue, who fell short to No. 14 ranked Morningside (Iowa) 76-72 on Dec. 30 in their home tournament, defeated Dakota State (S.D.) 64-47 in the North Star Athletic Association action on Jan. 4.  BU is 10-6 overall record and 2-1 NSAA conference record.  DaSU holds an overall record of 7-9 and 0-3 record in the league.

Looking Ahead This Week
The North Star Athletic Association men’s basketball wraps up the first round of round robin conference play this weekend.  Mayville State (N.D.) travels to Valley City State (N.D.), while Bellevue (Neb.) visits Jamestown (N.D.), and Dickinson State (N.D.) hosts Dakota State (S.D.) on Friday evening.

Bellevue and Dakota State switch places on Saturday, with BU visiting DiSU and UJ hosting DaSU.

            Friday’s Games
Mayville State (N.D.) @ Valley City State (N.D.) – 7:30 p.m.
Bellevue (Neb.) @ Jamestown (N.D.) – 7:30 p.m.
Dakota State (S.D.) @ Dickinson State (N.D.) – 8:30 p.m. (Central Time)/7:30 p.m. (Mountain Time)

            Saturday’s Games
Dakota State (S.D.) @ Jamestown (N.D.) – 5 p.m.
Bellevue (Neb.) @ Dickinson State (N.D.) – 6 p.m. (Central Time)/5 p.m. (Mountain Time)

NSAA Men’s Basketball Conference Standings