October 30, 2015

DES MOINES, Iowa – Four Dakota State (S.D.) Lady T's basketball players hit double-digit points Friday evening in 80-59 season opener victory over Mount Mercy (Iowa) on the first day of the Grand View (Iowa) Classic held at Sisam Arena.

One of the new college women's basketball rules starting this year with four 10-minute quarters instead of two 20-minute halves, DSU opened up the first quarter with a 13-12 lead.

The Lady T's kicked off the second quarter by scoring eight straight points to extend their lead to 21-12 with 7:33 on the clock.  Kennedy Wagner and BreeAna Olson each scored four points during DSU's 8-0 scoring spurt.

Dakota State outscored Mount Mercy 19-7 in the second quarter to grab a 32-19 halftime lead. 

DSU maintained their double-digit lead by the end of the third quarter, holding on to a 49-39 lead.

The Lady T's exploded for 31 points in the final quarter, including the game biggest lead at 73-46 with less than four minutes remaining.  The Mustangs scored 20 points in the fourth quarter.

Olson led all scorers for Dakota State with 21 points.  She was 7-of-10 shooting from the field, including converting 7-of-8 free-throws.  Courtney Hulstein added 15 points off the bench, where she also made 7-of-8 free-throws.  Wagner and Lindsey Vogl each tallied 12 points.

Sharee Galbraith pulled down seven rebounds and recorded five blocked shots for the Lady T's.  Vogl added five rebounds.  Madison Walford, Wagner, Olson and Hulstein each had four rebounds.

Walford dished out three assists for Dakota State.  Galbraith, Wagner, Kendra Lindblad and Olson each produced two assists.

Olson stole the ball six times for the Lady T's.  Hulstein had three steals.

Makenzie Zeitler scored 12 points and earned 9 boards for the Mustangs.  Jakaila Jordan added seven points.

Dakota State shots 41 points overall from the field, making 25 baskets in 61 attempts.  Mount Mercy was held to 32.8 percent shooting (20-of-61). 

The Lady T's went to the free-throw line 35 times, nailing down 25 free-throws (71.4 percent).  The Mustangs was 15-of-23 free-throws (65.2 percent).

DSU won the rebounding battle over MMC 44-35.  The Lady T's bench outscored Mustangs' bench 36-26.

Dakota State plays the host-team Grand View, who defeated North Star Athletic Association's newcomer Waldorf (Iowa) 79-49, Saturday evening on the second day of the classic.  Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at Sisam Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director