February 24, 2016

MAYVILLE, S.D. – Fourth-seeded Mayville State (N.D.) drained a total of 15 3-pointers and nailed down 27-of-40 free-throws Wednesday evening, fueling to an 88-79 victory over No. 5 seed Dakota State (S.D.) in the quarterfinals round of the North Star Athletic Association Women's Basketball Postseason Tournament at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse.  Despite the loss, the Lady T's shot a blazing 62.5 percent from the field in the second-half but could not complete a comeback.

The Comets raced to a 12-0 lead in the first three minutes and thirteen seconds in the game.  Courtney Hulstein ended the Lady T's scoring drought with a pair of free-throws with 5:51 left in the opening quarter (12-2 MSU lead).

After MSU's fast start, DSU answered back by scoring seven straight points to cut Comets' lead to 12-7 after a 3-point play by BreeAna Olson with 5:05 on the clock in the first quarter.

Olson scored the final four points of the first quarter as Dakota State trailed 20-16.  She scored 11 points in the first quarter.

Sharee Galbraith scored a basket to open the second quarter to reduce the Comets' lead to 20-18.  The Comets increased their lead to eight by halftime after Liza Hoglo made a pair of free-throws for a 39-31 halftime lead.

Both teams made 12 field goals in the first-half, but MSU hit a total of seven 3-pointers compared to DSU two 3-pointers.

Leading 41-38 in the third quarter, Jenna Lundon made back-to-back 3-pointers as the Comets extended their lead to 47-38 with 4:18 left.

The Lady T's responded back with a 6-1 scoring run to cut Mayville State's lead to 48-44 with 2:01 left in the third quarter after a basket by Galbraith.

MSU outscored DSU 11-2 in the final 1:49 of the third quarter as their lead grew to 59-46. 

The Comets recorded their biggest lead of the game at 66-53 with 7:48 left in the game before the Lady T's mounted a comeback.

Dakota State could get no closer than 81-75 with less than 30 seconds remaining in the game.  Mayville State secured the game by making all five free-throw attempts in the final 21 seconds.

DSU outscored MSU 33-29 in the final ten minutes of the game.

The Lady T's made 20 baskets in 32 attempts (1-of-4 3-pointers) in the second-half compared to the Comets 11-of-24 field goals (8-of-19 from the 3-point line).  MSU was 19-of-30 free-throws in the final twenty minutes while DSU was 7-of-12 free-throws.

Galbraith posted a double-double in the game, pouring in a career-high 31 points and pulling down 10 rebounds for Dakota State.  She was 12-of-16 from the field and 7-of-11 from the free-throw line.  She also had two blocks.

Madison Walford scored 19 points for Dakota State.  Olson added 13 points (6-of-9 field goals).  Hulstein had five points.

Walford earned six rebounds for DSU.  Kennedy Wagner dished out a game-high five assists.  Olson stole the ball five times.

Lundon led the Comets with 34 points after going 10-of-13 from the field, including 6-of-8 from the 3-point line, and 8-of-11 free-throws.  Hoglo produced a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds.  She went 12-of-18 from the free-throw line.  Andi Gayner added 14 points, while Karleigh Weber had 13 points.

Weber registered six rebounds for MSU.  Gayner, Joelle Ertl and Kendra Heier each recorded four assists. 

Dakota State shot 49.2 percent overall from the field, making 32 baskets in 65 attempts.  Mayville State was 23-of-53 from the field (43.4 percent).  The Comets hit 15 3-pointers in 35 attempts (42.9 percent), while the Lady T's made 3 3-pointers in 10 tries.

DSU was 12-of-17 free-throws in the game (70.6 percent).

MSU outrebounded DSU 36-33, with both teams scoring nine second-chance points.

The Lady T's outscored the Comets 16-8 in points off turnovers and 11-3 in bench points.

It was the final career collegiate game for four Lady T's seniors – Galbraith, Hulstein, Kendra Lindblad and Kelsey Little. 

Dakota State finished their 2015-16 season with an overall record of 14-16 and 6-7 NSAA conference record.  It was the most overall and conference wins since 2007-08 season.

Mayville State moves on to the NSAA Women's Basketball Postseason semifinals on Friday evening.  The Comets will visit the top-seed Jamestown (N.D.), who defeated No. 8 seed Waldorf (Iowa) 88-49 in the quarterfinals Wednesday, at the Civic Center with a tip-off starting at 9 p.m.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director