December 29, 2016

SALINA, Kan. – Dakota State (S.D.) held host-team Kansas Wesleyan to 27.9 percent field goal shooting Thursday evening on the first day of the KWU Classic at Mabee Arena, but the Coyotes took advantage of 37 free-throws to edge Lady T's 78-75 in overtime thriller. 

DSU, which returned back to action after Christmas break, fell to 3-11 overall record.  KWU, receiving votes in the latest NAIA Division II Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 poll and a member of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, raised their overall record to 11-4.  The Coyotes extended their winning streak to eight games.

The opening quarter saw a total of five ties and two lead changes between the Lady T's and the Coyotes.  The Lady T's had the biggest lead in the first quarter at 19-13 and held on to a 23-21 lead after the first quarter.  DSU shot 53.3 percent from the field (8-of-15), while holding KWU to 29.4 percent (5-of-17).  Dakota State was 6-of-6 free-throws while Kansas Wesleyan was 9-of-11 free-throws in the first period.

Both teams battled back-and-forth in the second quarter with seven lead changes and three ties, with the lead no bigger than three points by KWU.  The Coyotes gained a slim 40-39 halftime advantage.

Dakota State shot a blazing 53.3 percent from the field in the first twenty minutes of the game.  Kansas Wesleyan was 38.2 percent from the field, converting 13-of-34 field goals.

The Lady T's opened up the third quarter with a 13-5 scoring run to grab the largest lead of the game at 52-45 with 6:35 on the clock.  The Coyotes answered back with a 7-2 closing run to cut DSU's lead to 54-52 by the end of the third quarter.

DSU jumped to a five-point lead at 63-58 with 5:39 remaining after a 3-pointer by BreeAna Olson (assisted by Kelsey Poppen).  KWU went on to score nine straight points to regain their lead at 67-63 with 1:19 left before the Lady T's took a timeout.

Jamie Tebben made a basket with less than a minute to go to trim KWU's lead to 67-65.  After KWU Gabbie Miller's shot was blocked by DSU Britley Plautz, Plautz made a field goal inside the paint as the Lady T's knotted the game at 67-67 with less than 30 seconds to go.

Coyote Jenna Farris' shot was blocked by Lady T Kennedy Wagner with 10 seconds to go.  Wagner drove the ball inside the paint and nailed down the basket, but her game-winning basket was negated as she was called for an offensive foul with 1.6 seconds to go in the game.

Four ties and three lead changes were recorded in the final period.

Dakota State earned the first lead in overtime after Olson's basket for DSU's 69-67 lead with 4:27 to go.

KWU went on a 6-0 scoring tear to overtake a 73-69 lead with 2:03 remaining. 

Wagner broke Lady T's scoring drought with a pair of free-throws as Dakota State trailed 73-71 with 1:14 to go.

Kansas Wesleyan secured the game after Farris made a pair of free-throws to extend their lead to 77-72 with less than 15 seconds remaining.

Dakota State could get no closer than two points after Olson drained a 3-pointer with seven seconds to go (KWU led 77-75).  KWU Farris made a free-throw to complete the final score.

The Coyotes outscored the Lady T's 11-8 in overtime.

KWU went cold shooting from the field goal in second-half and overtime, shooting a dismal 17.5 percent (6-of-34).  The Coyotes took advantage of 26-of-34 free-throws in the final 25 minutes of the game.  DSU was 34.1 percent from the field (14-of-41), 5-of-13 3-pointers and 3-of-4 free-throws.

A total of 15 lead changes and 13 ties were featured in the game.

Wagner scored 18 points for the Lady T's.  Olson added 16 points (4-of-8 from the 3-point line).  Tebben tallied a season-high 14 points off the bench after going 7-of-11 from the field.  Plautz had eight points.  Cassie Jones scored seven points.

Plautz pulled down a season-high 13 rebounds for Dakota State.  She also had five blocked shots.  Wagner earned nine rebounds.  Olson and Shemika Frazier each had six rebounds.

Jones, Wagner and Olson each dished out two assists for DSU.

Farris led the Coyotes with a game-high 23 points.  Karlie Steinle added 19 points (12-of-14 free-throws).  Miller had 12 points off the bench.

Maddie Miller collected seven rebounds for KWU.  Steinle added six rebounds.

Britney Lewis produced two assists for Kansas Wesleyan.  Gabbie Miller stole the ball four times.

Dakota State shot 30-of-71 overall from the field (42.3 percent) compared to Kansas Wesleyan 19-of-68 field goals.  The Lady T's were 6-of-19 from the 3-point arc (31.6 percent), while the Coyotes were 3-of-18 3-pointers (16.7 percent).

Kansas Wesleyan converted 37-of-47 free-throws (78.7 percent) compared to Dakota State 9-of-10 free-throws (90 percent).

The Lady T's registered a season-high 55 rebounds, while the Coyotes had 39 rebounds in the game.  DSU outscored KWU 34-22 inside the paint, 17-10 in second-chance points and 24-19 in bench points.  The Coyotes outscored the Lady T's 23-2 in points off turnovers.

Dakota State looks to swing back in the winning column Friday afternoon as they face another opponent from the KCAC Conference.  The Lady T's play McPherson (Kan.) on the second day of the KWU Classic.  Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. at Mabee Arena.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director