February 13, 2016

Photo credits by Kaden Huntrods

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) overcame Valley City State's (N.D.) fast start in the first-half Saturday afternoon in the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Women's Basketball conference action at DSU Fieldhouse, but the Vikings pulled away past the Lady T's in the second-half for a 66-55 victory.  VCSU outscored DSU 34-24 in the final twenty minutes of the game.

Dakota State fell to 14-13 overall record and 6-5 NSAA conference record, tying with Mayville State (N.D.) for fourth in the conference standings (MSU defeated Presentation, S.D. 75-69 Saturday).  Valley City State lifted their overall record to 15-9 and 8-3 NSAA record (moved into second place by a half-game ahead of Dickinson State, N.D. after their home loss to No. 8 Jamestown, N.D.)

The Vikings opened up the game by scoring 13 straight points – thanks to back-to-back 3-pointers by Courtney Dixon to kick off the game – in the first three minutes and twenty-six seconds for a 13-0 lead.  VCSU only missed on basket in six attempts during the scoring run while the Lady T's missed five shots of the game and committed four turnovers.

DSU snapped their scoring drought with a basket by Sharee Galbraith with 6:02 on the clock in the first period (13-2 VCSU lead).

Valley City State held a 20-8 lead by the end of the first quarter.  The Vikings were 8-of-17 from the field in the opening quarter (47.1 percent) and held the Lady T's to 13.3 percent shooting (2-of-15).

VCSU started the second quarter with a 5-0 lead to extend to their biggest lead of the game at 25-8 with 8:40 on the clock.

Dakota State surged back in the game after closing the first-half with a monstrous 23-7 run.  Courtney Hulstein made a fast-break lay-up with less than seven seconds in the second-period as the Lady T's trimmed Vikings' lead to 32-31 by halftime.

The Lady T's outscored the Vikings in the second quarter 23-12.  DSU was 9-of-16 shooting from the field (56.3 percent) compared to VCSU 5-of-18 from the field (27.8 percent).

Leading at 43-42, the Vikings closed the third quarter by scoring five consecutive points from three different scorers (Mackenzie Huber, Nisja Bass and Lexi Lennon) to grab a 48-43 lead.

Valley City State maintained their lead for the entire fourth quarter as their lead grew to 14 points at 60-46 with 4:40 remaining.

The Lady T's could get no closer than seven points at 62-55 after a basket by Kennedy Wagner with 1:14 left.

Hulstein led Dakota State with 11 points.  Wagner added eight points.  Galbraith scored seven points and grabbed seven rebounds.  Kendra Lindblad had six points off the bench.  Jordan Hansen had five points and produced four assists.

Kelsey Little pulled down six rebounds for DSU.  Madison Walford and BreeAna Olson each had four rebounds.

Hulstein dished out three assists for the Lady T's.  Galbraith recorded two blocked shots.  Olson stole the ball three times.

Huber led all scorers for the Vikings with 17 points on her 7-of-9 shooting from the field and made all three free throw attempts.  Dixon and Lennon each posted double-doubles in the game.  Dixon had 10 points and earned 12 rebounds while Lennon tallied 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Sara Schwanke had nine points for VCSU.  Georgia Williams produced seven assists and scored six points.  Bass scored 10 points off the bench, recorded four assists and stole the ball three times.

Dixon had three blocked shots in the game for Valley City State.  Lennon and Nya Chakin each had two blocks.

VCSU shot 26-of-64 from the field (40.6 percent) compared to DSU 19-of-65 (29.2 percent).  The Vikings made five 3-pointers in 18 attempts (27.8 percent) while the Lady T's only made one 3-pointer in 12 tries (8.3 percent).

Dakota State went to the free-throw line 20 times, making 16 free-throws (80 percent).  Valley City State was 9-of-11 free-throws (81.8 percent).

VCSU outrebounded DSU 47-41 in the game. 

The Lady T"s outscored the Vikings 12-8 in transition points and 21-12 in bench points.  VCSU outscored DSU 22-11 in points off turnovers.

Dakota State continues their three-game home stand Wednesday, hosting this year's NSAA conference regular-season title outright and nationally-ranked No. 8 Jamestown.  The annual 'White-Out' game (College Against Cancer game) tips off at 5:30 p.m. held at the DSU Fieldhouse in Madison.

Valley City State stays on the road as they travel to Mayville State on the same night at 5:30 p.m.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director