February 10, 2016

MAYVILLE, N.D. – Knotted at 61-61 Wednesday evening in the key North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Women's Basketball conference game at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse, Dakota State (S.D.) opened up the fourth quarter with a 10-1 run and hang on to defeat Mayville State (N.D.) 88-78.  It was the first victory for the Lady T's at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse since Feb. 15, 2007 and ended DSU's eight-game losing skid versus the Comets since Dec. 3, 2011.

Dakota State won their second straight NSAA conference moving ahead of Mayville State for fourth-place in the standings with a 6-4 record (most overall and conference victories for the first time since 2007-08 season).  Mayville State lost their third straight game, dropping their overall record to 14-10 and 5-5 NSAA conference record.

Trailing 10-6, Courtney Hulstein drained back-to-back 3-pointers as the Lady T's grabbed a 12-10 lead.  DSU continued their scoring run (17-3 scoring run) to gain the first double-digit lead of the game at 23-13 with 3:07 left in the first period, forcing MSU to call a timeout.  During that scoring run, Dakota State was 9-of-14 from the field including 4-of-6 from the 3-point line (Kendra Lindblad added a pair of 3-pointers.

The Lady T's ended the first quarter with a 25-18 lead.

The second quarter featured series of runs by both team.  After a field goal by Kelsey Little to extend DSU's lead to 27-18, the Comets went on to score five straight points to cut Lady T's lead to 27-23 with 7:44 on the clock.

Dakota State answered back by with a 10-4 scoring run to regain a double digit lead at 37-27 with less than five minutes remaining before halftime.

MSU closed the first-half with a 12-6 to reduce DSU's lead down to four points at 43-39 by halftime.  The Lady T's shot 53.3 percent from the field in the first twenty minutes, including 6-of-11 from the 3-point line.  MSU was held to 40.5 percent from the field in first-half (15-of-37) and 6-of-17 3-pointers.

The Comets opened up the third quarter by draining four consecutive 3-pointers, while the Lady T's went 4-of-5 from field as the game was knotted at 51-51.  MSU went on to score five straight points for a 56-51 lead with 5:09 left in the third period.

Down 58-53, the Lady T's closed the third quarter with an 8-3 scoring run – thanks to BreeAna Olson 3-pointer to tie the game at 61-61.

Dakota State outscored Mayville State 10-1 in the first four minutes and fifty-nine seconds of the fourth quarter to open up a 71-62 lead.

The Comets responded back with a 9-2 scoring run to cut DSU's lead to 73-71 with less than two minutes to go.

Holding on to a two-point lead at 75-73, Lindblad drained a 3-pointer to extend DSU's lead to 78-73 with 1:19 remaining.

The Lady T's secured the game by making all ten free-throw attempts in the final 48 seconds of the game.  Sharee Galbraith made six free-throws, while Olson converted all four free-throws.

DSU outscored MSU 27-17 in the final period.

Dakota State shot 51.7 percent from the field in the second-half, making 15-of-29 field goals.  The Lady T's held the Comets to 37 percent shooting from the field in the last twenty minutes of the game (10-of-27).  Mayville State was 7-of-17 from the 3-point line in the second-half.

Five Lady T players scored in double figures, led by Olson with 23 points.  She was 8-of-13 from the field and 5-of-5 from the free-throw line.  Galbraith added 19 points (5-of-8 field goals) and made 9-of-10 free-throws. 

Hulstein scored 17 points for DSU.  She was 6-of-12 from the field and drained four 3-pointers in eight attempts.  Lindblad scored 11 points off the bench by going 4-of-7 from the field and 3-of-4 3-pointers.  Little also had 10 points off the bench.  Madison Walford tallied eight points.

Galbraith pulled down nine rebounds for Dakota State.  She also dished out two assists and recorded two blocked shots.

Hulstein and Little each produced four assists and grabbed five rebounds for the Lady T's.  Kennedy Wagner and Olson each added three assists.  Olson had six rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals. 

Andi Gayner led the Comets with a double-double of 20 points (8-of-16 field goals) and collected 11 rebounds.  Karleigh Weber drained five 3-pointers to earn 15 points.  Jenna Lundon added 14 points.  Liza Hoglo had 11 points.  She was held to 1-of-10 from the field, but converted 9-of-10 free-throws.

Joelle Ertl had nine points and dished out six assists for the Comets.  Lundon stole the ball four times. 

Dakota State shot a blazing 52.5 percent overall from the field, converting 31 baskets in 59 attempts.  Mayville State was held to 39.1 percent from the field (25-of-64). 

MSU drained 13 3-pointers in 34 attempts (38.2 percent), while DSU was 9-of-20 from the 3-point arc (45 percent).

The Lady T's, who leads the NSAA conference in free-throw percentage, were near perfect at the free-throw line by going 17-of-18 (94.4 percent).  The Comets were 15-of-25 free-throws (60 percent).

DSU outrebounded MSU 38-22 in the game.  The Lady T's outscored the Comets 21-9 in bench points.

Dakota State looks to extend their winning streak as they kick off their three-game home stand at DSU Fieldhouse Saturday, hosting Valley City State (N.D.) as part of 'Beach Party' theme.  Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. in Madison, S.D.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director