January 4, 2017

MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota State University Lady T's basketball team remained on the road Wednesday evening, visiting the nationally-ranked Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in a non-conference game at the Corn Palace.  The Tigers never trailed in the game as they cruised past the Lady T's by the score of 76-59.

Dakota State dropped their overall record to 3-13.  Dakota Wesleyan, ranked No. 8 in the latest NAIA Division II Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, raised their overall record to 14-2.

DWU opened up the game by scoring six consecutive points to grab a 6-0 lead in the first two minutes and nine seconds.  DSU ended their scoring drought with a pair of free-throws by BreeAna Olson with 7:37 on the clock in the first period.  Kelsey Poppen added a field goal, while Cassie Jones made both free-throws as Dakota State knotted the game at 6-6 with 5:28 left in the opening quarter.

Tied 8-8, the Tigers outscored the Lady T's 11-4 in the final 3:47 of the first quarter to grab a 19-12 lead.

Dakota State trimmed Dakota Wesleyan's lead down to four points on three different occasions in the early second quarter.  With DWU leading 23-19, the Tigers used 7-0 run to earn a 30-19 lead with 5:19 left in the first-half.

Dakota Wesleyan held a 43-30 halftime advantage over Dakota State.  DWU outscored DSU 24-18 in the second-period where the Tigers shot 64.3 percent from the field, while the Lady T's shot 54.5 percent.

DWU maintained their double-digit lead in the third period, but DSU outscored the Tigers 11-10 in the first ten minutes of the second-half.  Dakota Wesleyan led 53-41 after the third quarter, where the Lady T's held the Tigers to 15.8 percent shooting from the field.

Olson drained a 3-pointer with 4:40 remaining in the game as the Lady T's reduced their deficit into single digit, trailing 61-52.  DSU could get no closer than nine points, while the Tigers closed the game with a 15-7 run.

Olson led Dakota State with 17 points.  She drained three 3-pointers and made 4-of-6 free-throws.  Shemika Frazier scored 10 points off the bench.  Kennedy Wagner tallied nine points.  Jamie Tebben, Britley Plautz and Poppen each added six points.

Tebben and Plautz each collected seven rebounds for the Lady T's.  Olson added five rebounds.  Wagner contributed a game-high five assists.  Plautz recorded three blocked shots.

Tebben, Wagner, Olson, Shelby Vogel and Poppen each registered a steal for DSU.

Amber Bray poured in a game-high 25 points and pulled down seven rebounds for the Tigers.  She was 8-of-11 from the field and 7-of-8 free-throws.  Ashley Bray added 19 points (made all nine free-throw attempts).  Rylie Osthus scored 11 points and dished out four assists.  Chesney Nagel stole the ball three times. 

DWU shot 40.4 percent overall from the field (23-of-57) compared to DSU 35.4 percent (17-of-48).  Both teams made six 3-pointers.

The Tigers converted 24-of-31 free-throws (77.4 percent).  The Lady T's were 19-of-29 free-throws (65.5 percent).

Dakota State outrebounded Dakota Wesleyan 32-26 in the game.  DSU outscored DWU 13-6 in points off turnovers, 17-11 in bench points and 7-6 in second-chance points.

The Lady T's stay on the road as they resume back in the North Star Athletic Association conference action Friday evening.  DSU looks to snap their losing skid as they visit Mayville State (N.D.).  Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse in Mayville, N.D.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director