January 23, 2016

DICKINSON, N.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) traveled to Scott Gymnasium Saturday evening to battle of undefeated North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) women's basketball conference contest, visiting 20th-ranked Dickinson State (N.D.).  After the Lady T's overtake the lead in the early third quarter, the Blue Hawks used a late surge to pull away past Dakota State for a 78-63 victory.

The Lady T's fell to 12-9 overall record and lost their first NSAA conference game this season (4-1 NSAA record).  Dickinson State won their sixth straight game to lift their overall record to 16-4 and remained undefeated in conference play (4-0 record).

With the game knotted at 8-8, the Blue Hawks closed the first period with a 13-5 scoring run to earn a 21-13 lead. 

The Lady T's answered back with a 12-4 run to tie the game for the fourth time at 25-25 after a pair of free-throws by BreeAna Olson with four minutes and fifteen seconds left in the second quarter.

Cassie Jones nailed down a pair of free-throws as Dakota State cut Dickinson State's lead to 36-35 by halftime.

Both teams made 13 baskets and six free-throws in the first-half, but the Blue Hawks made four three-pointers while the Lady T's drained three three-pointers.

Olson kicked off the third quarter with a field goal as Dakota State regained their lead at 37-36, their first lead since 8-6 with 5:46 left in the first-period.

After Madison Walford hit a pair of free-throws to put DaSU up 44-41 with 5:48 on the clock in the third, the Blue Hawks went on a 12-1 scoring surge to grab a 53-45 lead with less than a minute to go in the third period.

DiSU held on to a 54-46 lead after the third quarter.

The Lady T's could get no closer than eight points on four different occasions in the fourth quarter.  The Blue Hawks outscored the Lady T's 24-17 in the final quarter to secure the victory.

DiSU shout 43.8 percent (14-of-32) in the second-half compared to DaSU 30.8 percent (8-of-26).

Courtney Hulstein scored 14 points on her 5-of-9 field goal shooting (2-of-4 from the 3-point line) for Dakota State.  Olson added 13 points (5-of-8 field goals and 3-of-3 free-throws).  Sharee Galbraith had 10 points.  Kennedy Wagner scored seven points off the bench.  Walford and Kelsey Little each had six points.

Walford grabbed eight rebounds for the Lady T's.  Galbraith earned five boards.  Walford, Galbraith, Kendra Lindblad and Jones each recorded a block.

Lindblad produced four assists for DaSU.  She stole the ball four times.

Four Blue Hawk players scored in double-digits, led by Megan Klein with 16 points.  She posted a double-double where she pulled down 16 rebounds.  Taylor Henningsgard added 14 points.  Janniqua Thomas had a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds. 

Lorna Shepherd had 10 points and dished out four assists for Dickinson State. 

Dickinson State shot 43.5 percent overall from the field (27-of-62) and 6-of-17 from the 3-point line (35.3 percent).  Dakota State was 36.2 percent from the field (21-of-58) and 5-of-20 from the 3-point range (25 percent).

The Blue Hawks went to the free-throw line 26 times, making 18 free-throws (69.2 percent).  The Lady T's were near perfect from the free-throw line, converting 16-of-18 free-throws (88.9 percent).

Dickinson State had a plus-21 rebound margin over Dakota State.  The Blue Hawks pulled down 49 rebounds compared to the Lady T's 28 rebounds. 

There were five ties and six lead changes in the game.

Both teams will meet for the second NSAA conference meeting in the final regular-season on Feb. 20 at DSU Fieldhouse.

Dakota State concludes their six-game road trip Wednesday evening as they make another stop in North Dakota.  The Lady T's visit Valley City State (N.D.) in the NSAA conference game.  Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse in Valley City, N.D.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director