November 11, 2017
MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) held Kansas Wesleyan 26.3 percent field goal shooting Saturday afternoon at DSU Fieldhouse, earning a 76-64 non-conference women's basketball victory. The Lady T's remained undefeated at home with a 2-0 record.
Dakota State snapped their three-game losing streak and lifted their overall record to 2-3. Kansas Wesleyan, receiving votes in the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Top 25 national poll, fell to 2-4 overall record.
Both teams struggled from the field in the early going of the game. KWU opened the game with a 7-2 lead with 7 minutes, 48 seconds on the clock and forced the Lady T's to burn their first timeout of the game.
Trailing 16-10, DSU outscored the Coyotes 9-2 in the final 1:33 of the first quarter for a 19-18 lead. KWU shot 25 percent from the field in the first ten minutes (5-of-20 field goals), while DSU was 3-of-15 from the field (20 percent). The Lady T's were 13-of-18 from the free-throw line compared to the Coyotes 7-of-8 free-throws.
Knotted at 23-23 in the second quarter, Dakota State scored seven straight points from three different scorers (Jamie Tebben, Britley Plautz and Kelley Criddle) to grab a 30-23 lead with 5:33 to go before halftime.
The Lady T's maintained a 40-36 halftime lead over the Coyotes. DSU was 11-of-36 from the field in the first half (30.6 percent) compared to KWU 11-of-38 field goals (28.9 percent). Dakota State was 17-of-23 from the free-throw line, while Kansas Wesleyan converted 11-of-16 free-throws.
The Coyotes kicked off the third quarter with an 8-4 run to record the fifth tie of the game at 44-44 with 7:12 on the clock. Leading 50-49, the Lady T's made three consecutive baskets (3-pointer by Kennedy Wagner and a pair of field goals by Alison Scheetz and Kelley Criddle) to open up an eight-point lead at 57-49 with 2:04 to go in the third.
Dakota State earned their first double-digit lead of the game with a 60-50 lead after the end of the third quarter. DSU was 9-of-20 from the field (45 percent) while holding KWU to below 30 percent field goal shooting in the first ten minutes of the second-half. The Coyotes were 5-of-21 from the field (23.8 percent).
The Lady T's recorded the biggest lead of the game at 65-52 after a free-throw by Shelby Vogel with 7:48 remaining. Kansas Wesleyan could get no closer than eight points as Dakota State secured the victory.
DSU was 14-of-31 from the field (45.2 percent) in the second-half while KWU shot 23.7 percent (9-of-38).
Tebben posted a double-double of 19 points and pulled down 13 rebounds for the Lady T's. Plautz registered a triple-double of 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocks off the bench. Plautz's 10 blocked shots is tied for third most blocks in the game in the Lady T's basketball record book. She also moved in a tied for ninth-most career blocks with 79 (Sheila Haack from 1995-2000).
Wagner added 15 points for DSU. Lindsey Vogl scored 12 points. Kelley Criddle had six points (3-of-3 field goals) and recorded three blocked shots.
Raven Patton earned 11 rebounds off the bench for Dakota State. Wagner and Vogl each had four rebounds.
Wagner dished out five assist for the Lady T's. Leah Marsh and Plautz each had three assists. Wagner and Patton each had two steals.
Sydney Mortensen scored 15 points (all on 3-pointers) for the Coyotes. Maddie Miller added 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Haleigh Bradford scored 11 points. Mariah Knox tallied eight points off the bench.
Gabbie Miller and Amanda Hill each had six rebounds for KWU. Mortensen produced four assists.
Dakota State shot 37.3 percent overall from the field (25-of-67) compared to Kansas Wesleyan 20-of-76 field goals. The Coyotes were 8-of-28 from the 3-point line while the Lady T's were 3-of-17 3-pointers.
DSU went to the free-throw line 32 times, making 23 free-throws (71.9 percent). KWU was 16-of-24 free-throws (66.7 percent).
Kansas Wesleyan had a slight rebounding edge over Dakota State 53-52. The Lady T's recorded 14 blocked shots in the game, while the Coyotes had 6 blocks.
DSU outscored KWU 36-16 inside the paint and 6-0 in fast-break opportunities.
Dakota State stays home on Tuesday as they host Trinity Bible (N.D.) in another non-conference game. The game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
