Bison Absorb Third Injury

North Dakota State women’s basketball lost a third key player to injury during its 86-60 victory over Augustana on Thursday night at Scheels Center. The Bison opened their Division I regular season with a win, but the result was overshadowed by the departure of junior guard Elena Lazarevic from the floor in pain.

With seven minutes and nine seconds remaining in the third quarter, Lazarevic grabbed her left knee and was helped to the bench. She spent the rest of the contest icing her knee. Head coach Jory Collins said he had no further update on the injury during his postgame press conference, describing the situation as a typical bad outcome.

This is the third major loss for the team in a short span. The Bison were already without Summit League Player of the Year Avery Koenen and Abby Krzewinski, who both suffered injuries earlier in the week at Gonzaga. Collins said both players are sidelined for the foreseeable future. Between the two, they have played 204 games and made 160 starts in their careers at the university.

Koenen and Krzewinski were present at the arena before tipoff. Krzewinski arrived on a rolling scooter wearing a walking boot, while Koenen used crutches and a knee brace. Lazarevic joined them at the end of the bench after her injury. Collins noted that the team has been dealing with an emotional week, compounded by the latest setback.

Lazarevic and senior Miriley Simon started in place of the injured duo. Simon led the Bison with nine points and eight rebounds. Lazarevic had six points and two rebounds in 14 minutes before leaving the game. Jocelyn Schiller contributed 20 points and six rebounds, while Karrington Asp added 18 points.

The Bison built a 19-8 lead in the first quarter and held a 36-25 advantage at halftime. They extended their lead to as many as 20 points in the third quarter. Schiller said the team is processing the changes and believes it will take all of them to succeed. Collins observed that the players are sticking together despite the difficult circumstances.

North Dakota State, now 1-1, will play Creighton at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, at Scheels Center. The game will air on WDAY Xtra. Asp said the team maintains the same goals it set before the season and intends to play for the three injured players.