January 20, 2016

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Tied at 23-23 after the first-period in North Star Athletic Association women's basketball contest at Strode Center Wednesday evening, Dakota State (S.D.) outscored Presentation (S.D.) 24-13 in the second quarter and never looked back for an 84-73 victory.  The Lady T's remained undefeated in conference play – first time that DSU started the NSAA conference with a 4-0 record – while the Saints suffered its first NSAA conference loss of the season.

Dakota State – who is 2-2 record on the current six-game road trip – raised their overall record to 12-8, surpassing last year's wins total.  The Lady T's held on to a half-game lead over No. 12 Jamestown (N.D.) (defeated Valley City State, N.D. 83-65) and No. 18 Dickinson State (N.D.) (defeated Mayville State, N.D. 82-76 in overtime) who both recorded victories Wednesday evening (3-0 NSAA conference record).  Presentation fell to 6-10 overall and 3-1 NSAA.

The Saints opened up with a 10-5 lead in the early going of the first period, but the Lady T's answered back with a 9-4 run to tie the game at 14-14 after a 3-pointer by Cassie Jones with four minutes and seventeen seconds on the clock.

The game was knotted at 23-all after the first period.  PC shot 62.5 percent from the field (10-of-16) while DSU was 7-of-16 field goals (43.8 percent).  The Lady T's drained five 3-pointers in the first quarter. 

At 29-29, the Lady T's scored 11 consecutive points to take a 40-29 lead with 4:45 remaining before halftime.  During the scoring outburst, Dakota State earned 11 points from four different scorers—BreeAna Olson, Kendra Lindblad, Sharee Galbraith and Kennedy Wagner.

The Lady T's maintained a 47-36 halftime advantage, thanks to a blazing 56.7 percent shooting from the field in the first-half (17-of-30) compared to the Saints' 46.7 percent (14-of-30).  DSU was 6-of-12 from the 3-point line in the first twenty minutes while PC did not make a 3-pointer in four tries.

Presentation trimmed Dakota State's lead down to five points on three different occasions in the third quarter and could not get any closer.  After PC cut DSU's lead to 61-56, the Lady T's scored its last five points of the third quarter – all by free throws (three by Courtney Hulstein and a pair by Jordan Hansen) to extend their lead to 66-56.

Dakota State continued it scoring run as they stretched to the biggest lead of the game at 72-59 after a 3-pointer by Lindblad with 5:10 remaining.

Both teams scored 37 points in the second-half.  The Lady T's struggled from the field by going 8-of-30 (26.7 percent, but made 27-of-30 from the free-throw line in the final twenty minutes of the game.  The Saints were 50 percent from the field (14-of-28) and 8-of-12 free-throws in the second-half.

Five Lady T players scored in double digits, led by Olson with 16 points.  She was 6-of-8 from the field and 3-of-4 free-throws.  Lindblad (5-of-8 field goals, including 3-of-6 3-pointers) and Wagner (4-of-9 field goals and 6-of-6 free-throws) each added 15 points.  Galbraith scored 12 points.  Kelsey Little had 10 points off the bench and converted all six free-throw attempts.

Little earned six rebounds for Dakota State.  Galbraith added five rebounds and recorded four blocked shots.  Madison Walford had four rebounds.

Olson stole the ball three times for DSU.  Hulstein and Jones each had two steals.  Wagner dished out four assists. 

PC's Haley Froelich shot 11-of-20 from the field and 6-of-9 from the free-throw line for a game-high 28 points.  Sydney Larson posted a double-double of 15 points and collected 11 rebounds.  Cora Lopez tallied 19 points off the bench from her 9-of-13 field goal shooting. 

Kenyetta Fugate recorded seven rebounds for Presentation.  Froelich had five rebounds and three assists.  Lee Lee Tomlinson added three assists.

Kathryn Thomas, Froelich and Tomlinson each had two steals for the Saints.

Presentation shot 48.3 percent overall from the field (28-of-58) compared to Dakota State 41.7 percent (25-of-60).  The Lady T's were 7-of-19 from the 3-point arc (36.8 percent) while the Saints were just 1-of-8 3-pointers (12.5 percent).

DSU made 27 free-throws in 30 attempts (90 percent).  PC was 16-of-22 free-throws (72.7 percent).

The Saints outrebounded the Lady T's 36-26. 

DSU outscored PC 21-7 in points off turnovers and 34-21 in bench points.

The Lady T's are 2-0 record against the Saints this season and will meet for the third meeting of the season on Feb. 6 at DSU Fieldhouse.

Dakota State continues their road trip this Saturday as they visit 20th-ranked Dickinson State (N.D.) in battle of NSAA's undefeated teams.  Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. (Central Time)/4 p.m. (Mountain Time) at Scott Gymnasium in Dickinson, N.D. 

Presentation remains at home Saturday as they host Valley City State in the North Star contest at 4 p.m.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director