December 19, 2015

Photos credits by Kaden Huntrods and Donald Weidler

MADISON, S.D. – The Dakota State University Lady T's basketball team returned back to action for the first time since Dec. 6 Saturday afternoon.  The Lady T's took advantage with their fast start and never trailed in the game with a 76-56 non-conference victory over North Star Athletic Association's foe Presentation (S.D.), ending DSU's three-game losing streak.

DSU raised their overall record to 8-5 (1-0 NSAA conference record), while PC fell to 5-5 overall record (2-0 NSAA conference record).  The Saints lost two straight games after winning three consecutive games.

Presentation missed their first nine shots of the game to allow Dakota State gain a 6-0 early lead.  PC made their first basket of the game with five minutes and fifty-seven seconds on the clock in the first period by Haley Froelich (6-2 DSU lead).

The Lady T's went on to outscore the Saints 5-1 in a span of 2:50 to earn their first double digit lead of the game at 13-3.

DSU held a 20-12 lead by the end of the first quarter.  The Lady T's held the Saints to 21.7 percent shooting (5-of-23) in the opening quarter.  DSU was 6-of-14 from the field (42.9 percent) and 7-of-12 free-throws.

Dakota State used another fast start, an 11-0 second-quarter opening run as their lead ballooned to 31-12 with 5:50 on the clock.  During the scoring run, the Lady T's got three points by Sharee Galbraith, Jordan Hansen, Courtney Hulstein and a pair of free-throws by Kelsey Little.

A 3-pointer by Hansen gave DSU a 40-24 halftime cushion over the Saints.  The Lady T's shot 43.3 percent in the first-half (13-of-30), while holding the Saints to 25 percent shooting (9-of-36).

PC could get no closer than 10 points on two different occasions in the third quarter – 42-32 with 6:34 on the clock and 44-34 with 5:16 to go in the third period.  DSU closed the third quarter with a 14-5 scoring run for a 58-39 lead.

Dakota State had the biggest lead of the game on three occurrences in the final quarter.  BreeAna Olson nailed down a 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter for a 61-39 lead with 9:45 left.  She also added a basket with less than eight minutes left to give DSU a 65-43 lead.  Madison Walford converted both free-throws with 6:46 remaining to give Dakota State a 67-45 lead.

DSU outscored PC 36-32 in the final twenty minutes.

Eleven different Lady T players scored in the game, led by Galbraith with 18 points.  She was 6-of-11 from the field, including a perfect 3-of-3 from the 3-point line.  Olson added 15 points.  Hulstein tallied 14 points.  Hansen scored eight points off the bench.  Walford had seven points.

Walford pulled down eight rebounds for Dakota State.  Galbraith, Olson and Kennedy Wagner each had seven rebounds. 

Kendra Lindblad dished out four assists for the Lady T's.  Hulstein and Wagner each had three assists.

Dakota State, ranks third in nation for total blocks prior to today's game, recorded eight blocked shots in the game.  Galbraith, who leads the nation in blocks per game, registered a game-high five blocked shots.  Walford added three blocks.

Lindblad, Olson, Hulstein, Wagner, Lindsey Vogl, Hansen, Kelsey Little and Kelley Criddle each recorded a steal for DSU.

Froelich - who leads the NAIA in points averaged per game - poured in a game-high 24 points (9-of-21 field goals and 6-of-8 free-throws) for the Saints.  Kenyetta Fugate produced a double-double of 10 points and earned 10 rebounds.  Macy Toelle scored eight points off the bench.

Krystan Gomez dished out four assists and stole the ball three times for Presentation.  Lee Lee Tomlinson added three assists.

Fugate had two blocked shots for PC. 

Dakota State shot 38.7 percent overall from the field (24-of-62) compared to Presentation 30 percent (21-of-70).  The Lady T's were 8-of-17 from the 3-point line (47.1 percent), while the Saints only made one 3-pointer in 12 attempts (8.3 percent). 

DSU was 20-of-30 free-throws (66.7 percent).  PC converted 13 free-throws in 21 attempts (61.9 percent).

The Lady T's outrebounded the Saints 54-42 in the game. 

Both teams will play each other twice during the NSAA conference regular-season play, at Presentation on Jan. 20, 2016 and at Dakota State on Feb. 6, 2016.

Dakota State will have next week off for Christmas break and return back to action on Dec. 29-30 for a pair of games in the RibCrib-Kansas Wesleyan Classic.  The Lady T's play McPherson (Kan.) on Dec. 29 at 2 p.m. and host-team Kansas Wesleyan on Dec. 30 at 4 p.m.

Presentation won't return back to action until Jan. 6-7, 2016 as they travel to Iowa.  The Saints visit Clarke (Iowa) on Jan. 7 at 5:30 p.m. and Mount Mercy (Iowa) on Jan. 8 at 6 p.m.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director