January 24, 2015

DICKINSON, N.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) and Dickinson State (N.D.) women's basketball teams renewed their conference meeting for the first time since 2011 (formerly Dakota Athletic Conference members) Saturday at the Scott Gymnasium, meeting for the first time in the North Star Athletic Association conference game.  The Lady T's rallied back from double-digit deficit to tie the game late the second-half, but the Blue Hawks were able to pull away for a 65-58 NSAA conference victory.

Dakota State fell to 10-11 overall record and 1-1 in NSAA conference action.  Dickinson State (N.D.), who upset nationally-ranked No. 23 Mayville State (N.D.) 75-59 in conference season opener last Wednesday, lifted their overall record to 7-11 and 2-0 record in NSAA conference.

Dickinson State opened the game with a 7-0 lead in the first three minutes and thirty-one seconds.  The Lady T's ended their scoring drought after Sharee Galbraith hit a field goal with 16:03 left in the first-half (7-2 DiSU lead).

The Blue Hawks earned their biggest lead of the game at 21-8 with less than 10 minutes left before intermission (14-6 scoring run).

Erin Rabenberg hit a field goal with less than five seconds as the DaSU cut DiSU's lead to 33-27 by halftime.

Dickinson State regained their double digit lead after starting the second-half with a 12-6 scoring run, extending their lead to 45-33 with 14:40 remaining.

Dakota State mounted a comeback, storming back with an 18-6 scoring run.  Galbraith hit a 3-pointer with 8:45 left as the Lady T's tied the game at 51-51.

At 53-53, the Blue Hawks outscored the Lady T's 12-5 in the last 6:26 of the game.  The Lady T's could get no closer than three points at 56-53 with 6:09 remaining.

Dickinson State outscored Dakota State 32-31 in the second-half.

Rabenberg led the Lady T's with 17 points from her 6-for-12 shooting from the field, including 3-for-6 from the 3-point arc and made both free-throw attempts.  Galbraith added 11 points.  Kennedy Wagner scored eight points off the bench.  Jordan Hansen had six points.

Jayda Swenson earned nine rebounds for DaSU.  Madison Walford pulled down eight rebounds. 

Swenson and Kendra Lindblad each dished out three assists for Dakota State.  Rabenberg and Hansen each had two assists.

Rabenberg and Courtney Hulstein each stole the ball twice in the game for the Lady T's. 

Alyssa Hildebrand tallied a game-high 18 points for the Blue Hawks (6-of-11 field goals with 5-for-10 coming from the 3-point line).  Hailee Farstveet added 16 points.  Megan Klein recorded a double-double of 10 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.

Farstveet produced four assists for DiSU.  Paitton Herbst had three steals.

Megan Klein recorded three blocked shots in the game for Dickinson State.

Both teams struggled from the field with Dakota State shooting well than Dickinson State.  The Lady T's were 23-of-58 from the field (39.7 percent) compared to the Blue Hawks 35.4 percent (23-of-65).  DiSU was 8-of-22 from the 3-point arc (36.4 percent) while DaSU was 5-for-15 3-pointers.

The Blue Hawks went to the free-throw line 18 times, making 11 free-throws (61.1 percent).  The Lady T's were 7-of-8 free-throws (87.5 percent).

DiSU won the rebounding battle, outrebounding DaSU 41-39.

The Lady T's bench outscored Blue Hawks' bench 23-13.

Dakota State continues their NSAA conference action on the road Wednesday evening.  The Lady T's visit Valley City State (N.D.) with a tip-off starting at 5:30 p.m.  The game will be held at the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse in Valley City, N.D.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director