November 1, 2016
Photos credits by Nicholas Hauser
MADISON, S.D. – Dordt (Iowa) held a 36-25 halftime advantage and never looked back Tuesday evening as they defeated Dakota State (S.D.) 76-68 in a college women's basketball non-conference contest at DSU Fieldhouse.
The Lady T's fell to 0-2 overall record. It was the season opener for the Defenders.
Both teams went through three ties and two lead changes in the first seven minutes and eight seconds of the game. At 11-11, Dordt closed the first quarter with a 7-1 spurt to grab an 18-12 lead.
DC outscored DSU 18-13 in the second quarter to extend their lead into double-digit by halftime. The Defenders held a 36-25 halftime lead. Dordt shot 10-of-31 from the field in the first-half, including 5-of-15 from the 3-point line, and converted 11-of-14 free-throws. Dakota State was 6-of-30 from the field (20 percent), 2-of-6 3-pointers and was near perfect from the free-throw line with 11 free-throws in 12 attempts in the first twenty minutes.
The Defenders outscored the Lady T's 13-0 in second-chance points in the first-half.
Dakota State opened up the third quarter by going 3-of-3 from the field, including the first two baskets (2-point field goal and a 3-point field goal) from Kennedy Wagner and a 3-pointer by BreeAna Olson. DSU kicked off the second-half with an 8-2 outburst to cut DC's lead to 38-33 with 8:29 to go in the third quarter.
Dordt recorded its biggest lead of the game at 64-46 with 7:20 remaining in the game. From there, the Lady T's went on to score 10 straight points to cut the Defenders' lead into single digit. Wagner completed a 3-point play as DSU trailed 64-56 with 5:28 left.
Dakota State could get no closer than two points on two different occasions – 70-63 after a 3-pointer by Cassie Jones with 1:26 remaining and 72-65 after a basket by Shemika Frazier.
The Lady T's outscored the Defenders 26-21 in the final quarter.
Wagner poured in a career-high 27 points for Dakota State. She was 9-of-16 from the field and drained 3-of-5 3-pointers. Wagner was 6-of-6 from the free-throw line. Olson added 16 points on her 6-of-15 field goal shooting and 2-of-6 from the 3-point line. She made both free-throw attempts and registered a game-high five steals.
Britley Plautz scored six points and recorded game-highs of seven rebounds and four blocked shots for the Lady T's. Jamie Tebben had four points and grabbed six rebounds. Jones had five rebounds and two assists. Frazier dished out four assists.
Tebben, Kelley Criddle, Olson and Jordan Hansen each recorded a blocked shot for DSU.
Four DC players scored in double figures, led by Paige Engbers with 20 points. She was 6-of-13 from the field, including 5-of-11 from the 3-point arc. Shae Pollema added 14 points and made 8-of-10 free-throws. Kim Kroeze had 12 points and produced five assists. Annie Rhinesmith scored 10 points.
Kroeze and Rhinesmith stole the ball three times for the Defenders. Rio Landers tallied three blocked shots.
Dordt shot 35.6 percent overall from the field, making 21 field goals in 59 attempts. The Defenders were 10-of-23 from the 3-point line (43.5 percent). Dakota State was 33.8 percent from the field (22-of-65) and 7-of-18 from the 3-point arc (38.9 percent).
The Defenders went to the free-throw line 31 times, making 24 free-throws (77.4 percent). The Lady T's were near perfect from the free-throw line, converting 17-of-18 free-throws (94.4 percent).
DSU outrebounded DC 46-39 in the game. The Defenders outscored the Lady T's 15-9 in second-chance points.
Dakota State had 26 points inside the paint while Dordt had 16 points inside the paint.
Dakota State looks to earn its first win of the season as they compete in the two-day South Dakota NAIA Basketball Classic at the Pentagon this weekend. The Lady T's play No. 3 Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in the first game of the classic on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
BreeAna Olson - 1,000-point club
