November 7, 2015

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Down 16 points in the first quarter, the Dakota State University (S.D.) Lady T's used a strong second-half push to rally back for a 62-59 thriller over Northwest (Wash.) on the second day of the Holiday Inn Express Classic hosted by Dordt (Iowa).  The Lady T's completed the week by going 3-0 record at DeWitt Gymnasium (defeated Dordt on Nov. 3).

Dakota State won their third straight game, raising their overall record to 4-1.  It's their best start since 2007-08 season when the Lady T's opened their season with a 5-0 record.  Northwest fell to 2-2 overall record.

The Eagles opened up the game by scoring nine straight points for a 9-0 lead with seven minutes and 42 seconds on the clock.  DSU snapped their scoring drought with a free-throw by Kelsey Little with 7:04 left in the first quarter (9-1 NW lead).

Northwest's lead grew to the largest lead of the game at 21-5 with 2:18 left in the opening quarter.  The Lady T's went on to score the final four points of the first quarter to trim NW's lead to 21-9.  The Eagles shot 52.9 percent from the field (9-of-17) while DSU shot 27.3 percent (3-of-11).

DSU outscored NW 15-11 in the second quarter, trimming down Lady T's deficit into single digits at 32-24. 

Dakota State struggled from the field after shooting 20.8 percent (5-of-24), but made 14-of-17 free-throws in the first-half.  Northwest was 36.1 percent from the field (13-of-36) and 4-of-5 free-throws.

The Lady T's scored the first 12 points of the third quarter to gain their first lead of the game at 36-32 with 6:46 on the clock. 

DSU outscored Northwest 23-13 in the third quarter to grab a two-point lead before entering the fourth quarter at 47-45.

The Lady T's and Eagles traded lead four times and tied the game three times in the final quarter.  Tied at 59-59, Sharee Galbraith nailed down a free-throw with 22 seconds remaining to give DSU a 60-59 lead. 

Dakota State secured the game after Galbraith stole the ball from NW's Brianna Fiso with 12 seconds left.  The Eagles fouled Courtney Hulstein with five seconds left.  She drained a pair of free-throws to secure the victory for the Lady T's.

DSU shot 40 percent from the field in the second-half (12-of-30) and made 11-of-12 free-throws.  NW was held to 27 percent shooting (10-of-37) and 6-of-9 from the free-throw line.

Galbraith posted a double-double of 19 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for the Lady T's.  She was 5-of-10 from the field and made 9-of-10 free-throws.  Madison Walford added 13 points on her 5-of-8 shooting from the field and converted all three free-throws.  Hulstein scored 10 points off the bench.

Walford and Little each earned six boards for DSU.  Hulstein had five rebounds.

Kendra Lindblad dished out five assists for Dakota State.  Galbraith added three assists.  Galbraith and Walford each recorded two blocked shots.

Galbraith, Lindblad and Jordan Hansen each stole the ball twice for the Lady T's.

Mariah Stacona led the Eagles with 12 points and 5 steals.  Brianna Fiso added a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds.  Miranda Langenhorst had nine points.

Stacona and Langehorst each grabbed six rebounds for NW.  Charmaine Bradford had four assists. 

Both teams shot 31.5 percent overall from the field with the Lady T's making 17 of 54 baskets, while the Eagles made 23 baskets in 79 tries.  DSU went to the free-throw line 29 times, making 25 free-throws (86.2 percent).  Northwest was 10-of-14 free-throws (71.4 percent).

NW outrebounded DSU 48-42.

Dakota State returns home for the first time this season on Tuesday evening, hosting their long-time rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.).  The non-conference tilt is set for 5:30 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director