Hamling Sisters Sharing the Court

HEAVEN AND TARYN HAMLING ARE ENJOYING THEIR SEASON PLAYING TOGETHER.

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR)–The 2023-24 season for the NDSU Women’s basketball team has been one full of history and memories for Heaven Hamling. The senior guard helped lead the Bison to a division I record 21 wins (so far), and she’s been able to do it while sharing the court with her sister, Taryn Hamling. They say the experience of playing together has been awesome.

“She pushes me everyday to points where I might break,” said Taryn. “It makes me better as a person and a player.”

“Yeah it is so special,” said Heaven. “I think I have said before, when you are a freshman it’s a deer in the headlights, you don’t know really know what is going to happen. You don’t even know if you are going to touch the floor, so for her to come in and play a role for us, it is super special for me to see.”

For Head Coach Jory Collins, he recruited both the sisters to come play for the Bison. He says watching them play together has been a joy.

“It has been a lot of fun,” said Collins. “I know they have enjoyed it. To be able to stretch that out for a little while is great for both of them. They get along great. Heaven has coached her up plenty. There has been some bickering and a little rough-housing in some situations, but you can also tell there is a mutual respect and admiration for each other, so it has been fun to have those two together.”

Both Hamling sisters have their own playing styles, but Taryn says she may be better than Heaven at one thing.

“Well we kind of joke around,” said Taryn. “I say I’m better at shooting than she is and sometimes we get a little into it, but I’d say probably shooting.”

But Heaven had a different answer.

“Oh I would say that I am better than her at all of the above,” Heaven said while chuckling. “No, but I harp on her a lot. We go back and forth and we are pretty competitive. But, overall I think she is a lot more athletic than me. She is a lot more developed than I was at her age, so I am just happy to see where she can take it.”

The question was posed to the Sisters: if they played a game up the score of 21, who would win. Their end result was a consensus, but the score, well, they had different opinions.

“Well, with Heaven’s experience, probably Heaven,” said Taryn. “[Saying that] kind of hurts to say, but I feel like it would be close. Probably be like high-teens to 21 for Heaven.”

“21-zip me for sure,” said Heaven jokingly. “But, no I think she can get a couple baskets.”

Regardless, the Sisters, without a doubt, will cherish these final games that they get to suit up with each other.

The Bison open the second round of the WNIT versus Montana. A win would guarantee another game next week, a loss would end their season.