November 8, 2014

La CROSSE, Wis. – Dakota State (S.D.) shot a blazing 59.6 percent from the field Saturday afternoon, earning an 80-52 road victory at Viterbo (Wis.) on the second day of the NAIA Showcase Classic at R.W. Beggs Seniors Gymnasium.  The Lady T's never trailed in the game to gain a split in the two-day classic.

Dakota State raised their overall record to 2-2.  Viterbo remained winless in four games.

The Lady T's opened up with an 8-0 lead after going 4-for-4 from the field in the first two minutes and eight seconds of the game.

The V-Hawks answered back with an 11-4 scoring run to cut DSU's lead to 12-11 with 13:35 left in the first-half.

DSU roared with a 13-1 scoring spurt to earn a 13-point lead at 25-12 with less than nine minutes left before intermission.

Dakota State earned a 35-27 halftime advantage.

The Lady T's shot a sizzling 62.5 percent from the field in the first-half, converting 15 baskets in 24 attempts.  Viterbo was held to 39.3 percent shooting (11-for-28). 

DSU maintained control for the rest of the second-half.  The V-Hawks could get no closer than nine points on two occasions at 39-30 with 18:19 left in the game and 41-32 with 17:37 remaining.

The Lady T's outscored Viterbo 45-25 in the final twenty minutes of the game, thanks to DSU's 57.6 percent shooting in the second-half (19-of-33).  The V-Hawks were held to 33.3 percent shooting (10-of-30).

BreeAna Olson scored a game-high 22 points for the Lady T's.  She was 10-of-13 from the field and made both free-throw attempts.  Sharee Galbraith added 16 points.  Erin Rabenberg scored 14 points.  Both Galbraith and Rabenberg went 7-for-9 from the field.

Madison Walford had eight points for Dakota State.  Kennedy Wagner scored seven points off the bench.

Walford and Rabenberg each grabbed seven rebounds for the Lady T's.  Olson and Jayda Swenson each added four rebounds.

Galbraith recorded three blocked shots for DSU.  Jordan Hansen stole the ball four times.  Olson added three steals.

Hanson led the Lady T's with four assists.  Olson and Walford each added three assists.

Jenna Engh had 15 points for Viterbo.  Whitney Hanson had 14 points and pulled down six rebounds.

Engh dished out three assists for V-Hawks.  Ally Ostrander recorded three steals.

The Lady T's made 34 baskets in 57 attempts compared to Viterbo's 36.2 percent overall shooting (21-for-59).

DSU was 12-of-16 from the free-throw line (75 percent).  The V-Hawks struggled from the free-throw line, making just five free-throws in 19 tries (26.3 percent).

The Lady T's outrebounded V-Hawks 36-30. 

Dakota State stays on the road as they play in the two-day AIB (Iowa) Classic next weekend.  The Lady T's face Graceland (Iowa) on Friday at 5 p.m. and McPherson (Iowa) next Saturday at 1 p.m.  Both games will be held at the AIB Activities Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director