December 30, 2015

SALINA, Kan. – Dakota State (S.D.) and Kansas Wesleyan went through 11 ties and 8 lead changes through early fourth quarter Wednesday afternoon on the second day of the RibCrib-Kansas Wesleyan Women's Basketball Classic at Mabee Arena.  The Lady T's could not overcome Coyotes' 29-19 fourth-quarter outburst as the host-team KWU collected a 91-79 victory.

Dakota State dropped their overall record to 9-6 and earned a split against a pair of Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference foes in the classic.  Kansas Wesleyan, receiving votes in the latest NAIA Division II Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, lifted their overall record to 14-3.

Trailing 13-6, DSU closed the first quarter with a 10-3 run to knot the game at 16-16. 

KWU held on a slim 41-39 halftime advantage over the Lady T's.  Dakota State shot 47.2 percent in the first-half (17-of-36) compared to Kansas Wesleyan 46.4 percent (13-of-28).

The Coyotes raced to an eight-point lead at 53-45 with 6:08 left in the third quarter.  The Lady T's went on to close the third period with a 15-9 run to trim KWU's lead to 62-60.

After DSU's BreeAna Olson nailed down a basket to tie the game for the 11th time at 62-62 with 9:50 remaining, the Coyotes surged with a 16-6 run for the first double-digit lead of the game at 78-68 with 5:09 left.

The Lady T's could get no closer than 80-73 with 4:04 as KWU secured the victory.

Kansas Wesleyan shot 60.6 percent in the second-half (20-of-33), including 5-of-9 from the 3-point line.  Dakota State was 15-of-35 from the field in the final twenty minutes (45.1 percent).

Five DSU players scored in double digits, led by Sharee Galbraith with 18 points.  Madison Walford and Courtney Hulstein each added 16 points.  Olson and Kelsey Little each scored 11 points.

Little grabbed seven rebounds for Dakota State. Galbraith added six rebounds.  Walford recorded three blocked shots.  Galbraith had two blocks.

Galbraith and Lindblad each dished out three assists for the Lady T's.  Olson and Kennedy Wagner each had two assists.  Lindblad and Hulstein each stole the ball twice.

Jordyn Alexander poured in 25 points for the Coyotes on her 10-of-11 shooting from the field.  Bethany Barlow added 17 points off the bench after shooting 6-of-10 from the field, including 5-of-9 from the 3-point line.  Ashley Grant had 13 points.  Jenna Farris scored 12 points.

Alexander led KWU with eight rebounds and three blocked shots.  Stephanie Lichtenauer added six rebounds. 

Karlie Steinle produced six assists for Kansas Wesleyan.  Brylee New, Lichtenauer and Niki Wilson each had three assists.

KWU shot 54.1 percent overall from the field (33-of-61) compared to DSU 45.1 percent (32-of-71).  The Coyotes drained 12 3-pointers in 22 attempts (55.6 percent) while the Lady T's were 1-of-11 from the 3-point line (9.1 percent).

Dakota State went to the free-throw line 23 times, making 14 free-throws (60.9 percent).  Kansas Wesleyan was 13-of-18 free-throws (72.2 percent).

Both teams collected 34 rebounds in the game. 

The Lady T's outscored the Coyotes 52-28 inside the paint.

Dakota State returns home next Wednesday (Jan. 6) as they kick off the 2016 calendar year, hosting Waldorf (Iowa) in the North Star Athletic Association conference game.  Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse in Madison, S.D.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director