February 20, 2016

Photos credits by Kaden Huntrods

MADISON, S.D. – The Dakota State University Lady T's basketball team played a nationally-ranked team for the second straight game Saturday afternoon at DSU Fieldhouse.  Dickinson State (N.D.) never trailed in the game, cruising to an 87-63 North Star Athletic Association conference regular-season finale victory.

Dakota State finished their regular-season schedule with an overall record of 14-15 and 6-7 record in the NSAA conference – their most overall and conference victories since 2007-08 season.  Dickinson State, ranked No. 25 in the latest NAIA Division II Top 25 national poll, raised their overall record to 21-7 and 9-3 NSAA record.

The Blue Hawks opened up the first quarter with a 17-14 lead, after scoring the game's first five points.

DiSU went on a 7-0 run to start the second-quarter to earn their first double-digit lead of the game at 24-14 with less than eight minutes on the clock.

Dickinson State outscored Dakota State 24-13 in the second-period as their lead grew to 41-27 by halftime.  The Blue Hawks shot 17-of-35 from the field (48.6 percent), while the Lady T's were 10-of-30 field goals (33.3 percent). 

The Lady T's could get no closer than 13 points on two different occasions in the third quarter.  Kelsey Little made a basket with 6:56 on the clock to cut DiSU's lead to 48-35 and after a pair of free-throws by Kennedy Wagner trailing 61-48 with 1:24 to go in the third.

Taylor Henningsgard drained a 3-pointer with less a minute to put the Blue Hawks up 64-48.

Dickinson State had the biggest lead of the game at 87-59 with 1:48 remaining, but the Lady T's closed the game by scoring its final four points.

Madison Walford and Courtney Hulstein each scored 14 points for Dakota State.  Walford went 7-of-15 from the field, while Hulstein shot 5-of-10 field goals.  Wagner scored 10 points off the bench.  Galbraith and Little each had six points.

Walford led the Lady T's with seven rebounds and two blocked shots.  Galbraith had five rebounds.

Hulstein dished out five assists for DaSU.  BreeAna Olson added three assists and recorded three steals.  Galbraith and Cassie Jones each had two steals.

Janniqua Thomas led all scorers with 18 points for the Blue Hawks after shooting 9-of-18 from the field.  Ashley Bentz scored 15 points off the bench.  Megan Klein posted a double-double of 12 points and pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds.  Lorna Shepard and Henningsgard each had eight points.

Thomas earned eight boards for DiSU.  Henningsgard produced eight assists, while MacKayla Feeney and Klein each added five assists.  Thomas and Henningsgard each recorded two steals.

Dickinson State shot 50 percent overall from the field after making 36 field goals in 72 attempts.  Dakota State was 39.3 percent from the field (26-of-61).  The Blue Hawks drained 10 3-pointers in 20 attempts compared to the Lady T's 4-of-18 3-pointers (22.2 percent).

DaSU went to the free-throw line 17 times, converting 11 free-throws (64.7 percent).  DiSU was 5-of-6 free-throws (83.3 percent).

The Blue Hawks won the rebounding battle 45-30, outscoring the Lady T's 18-3 in second-chance points. 

DaSU outscored DiSU 17-10 in points off turnovers.  The Blue Hawks scored 45 bench points compared to the Lady T's 24 bench points.

It was the final regular-season collegiate contest at DSU Fieldhouse for four Lady T's – Galbraith, Hulstein, Kendra Lindblad and Little.

Both Dakota State and Dickinson State will await to hear the pairings for the North Star Athletic Association Women's Basketball Postseason Tournament Sunday evening.  The postseason conference tournament kicks off on Wednesday evening.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director