January 3, 2015

DES MOINES, Iowa – Trailing 20-14 in the first-half, Dakota State (S.D.) used a 30-8 scoring run late in the first-half and early in the second-half in 67-50 road victory over AIB (Iowa) at AIB Activities Center Saturday afternoon.  The victory also ended Lady T's five-game losing skid and their first victory of the 2015 year.

Dakota State improved their overall record to 7-8.  AIB, a member of Midwest Collegiate Conference, fell to 5-10 overall record.

The Eagles earned a six-point lead (20-14) with seven minutes and twenty-eight seconds remaining in the first-half. 

After that, the Lady T's scored 13 straight points from five different scorers (Kendra Lindblad, Jayda Swenson, Madison Walford, BreeAna Olson and Sharee Galbraith) to gain a 27-20 lead with 2:14 left before halftime.

DSU outscored AIB 15-4 in the final 7:28 of the first half to earn a 29-24 halftime advantage.

The Lady T's shot 42.3 percent from the field (11-of-26) in the first twenty minutes of the game, including 4-for-7 shooting from the 3-point line.  The Eagles were held to 28.1 percent shooting from the field (9-of-32) and 3-for-11 from the 3-point arc (27.3 percent).

Dakota State continued their scoring run to kick off the second-half, extending their lead to 44-28 with 13:27 left after another 15-4 scoring run.

The Eagles could get no closer than seven points at 52-45 with 6:20 remaining. 

DSU secured the victory by closing the game with a 15-5 run.

The Lady T's outscored the Eagles 38-26 in the final twenty minutes of the game.  Dakota State shot a blazing 51.9 percent from the field (14-of-27) compared to AIB 37.9 percent (11-of-29).  DSU was 4-of-8 from the 3-point line while AIB went 3-for-12 from the 3-point range.

Olson set career highs of 24 points and 7 steals in the game for the Lady T's.  She was 8-of-12 from the field, 3-for-5 from the 3-point arc and 5-for-7 from the free-throw line.  She also dished out four assists.

Lindblad added 11 points off the bench for DSU after going 4-for-5 from the field, including a perfect 3-for-3 from the 3-point line.  Galbraith had 10 points.  Swenson, Courtney Hulstein and Walford each scored six points.

Swenson pulled down eight rebounds for Dakota State.  Galbraith and Olson each earned seven rebounds.

Hulstein and Lindblad each produced three assists for the Lady T's.  Swenson and Lindblad each stole the ball twice. 

Galbraith recorded two blocked shots in the game for DSU.  Swenson, Kennedy Wagner and Lindblad each had a block.

The Eagles were led by Alexyss Burkhartsmeier with 13 points.  Shelbi Cooper added nine points off the bench.

Gelina Webb grabbed eight rebounds for AIB.  Mary Mack added seven rebounds. 

Mack dished out five assists and stole the ball four times for the Eagles.  Jessica Davis had five steals.

Dakota State shot 47.2 percent overall from the field, making 25 baskets in 53 attempts.  The Lady T's drained eight 3-pointers in 15 attempts (53.3 percent).  AIB was held to 32.8 percent overall shooting (20-of-61) and 6-of-23 (26.1 percent) from the 3-point line. 

DSU was 9-of-15 from the free-throw line (60 percent) compared to the Eagles' 4-of-7 free-throws (57.1 percent).

AIB had a slim rebounding advantage over DSU 38-37.

Dakota State returns home next Saturday (Jan. 10) to kick off their two-game home stand.  The Lady T's host their long-time rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in a non-conference game.  Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at the DSU Fieldhouse.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director