December 3, 2017

PHOTO GALLERY - Photos credits by Cody Welu and Donald Weidler

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) held on to a 72-70 North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Women's Basketball conference victory over Presentation (S.D.) Sunday afternoon at DSU Fieldhouse, despite committing 22 turnovers and being outscored by the Saints 33-8 in points off turnovers.  The Saints attempted for a 3-pointer by the buzzer was no good as the Lady T's hang on to the victory.

The victory also halted DSU's five-game losing streak, improving to 4-8 overall record and 1-1 record in North Star conference play.  Presentation dropped their third straight game, falling to 1-7 overall record and 0-2 record in NSAA games.

The Saints took the biggest lead of the game by the end of the first quarter, thanks to a 3-pointer by Allison Cox to put PC up 22-16.  The Lady T's shot 46.2 percent from the field (6-of-13) in the first ten minutes of the game, but suffered eight turnovers.  Presentation was held to 37.5 percent field goal shooting (9-of-24 field goals) in the first period.

Dakota State kicked off the second quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers by Jamie Tebben and Lindsey Vogl, tying the game at 22-22 (8:45 on the clock).  The Lady T's continued their scoring run, 12-3 run to start the second period, overtaking the lead from the Saints at 28-25 with 7:18 to go in the second period.

Presentation earned a 31-30 lead after Sophia Poole drained a 3-pointer with 2:35 left, but both teams struggled to score for the rest of the second period.

Dakota State shot 44.4 percent from the field in the first-half, converting 12-of-27 field goals.  Presentation was held to 30.8 field goal percentage (12-of-39).  The Saints outscored the Lady T's 14-0 in points off turnovers in the first twenty minutes of the game.

Both teams went through three ties and three lead changes in the third period.  The Saints opened up a five-point lead at 40-35 with 6:26 left after a 3-pointer by Macy Toelle.

The Lady T's would close the second quarter with a 13-7 run to regain their lead at 48-47.  DSU shot a sizzling 53.8 percent from the field in the third quarter (7-of-13 field goals), while holding PC to 29.4 percent (5-of-17 field goals, with 4 baskets coming from the 3-point line).

DSU started the fourth quarter with an 8-2 outburst, earning the biggest lead at 55-49 with 8:40 left after Raven Patton's basket and forced the Saints to burn a timeout.  After the timeout, the Saints answered back by scoring six straight points after back-to-back 3-pointers by Karly Sanchez and Toelle to knot the game at 55-55.

Tied at 70-70, Patton made a field goal inside the paint (assisted by Kennedy Wagner) to give DSU a two-point lead at 72-70 with less than 40 seconds to go.

The Saints missed two scoring opportunities in their final possession of the game.  Shayla Strauss missed a 3-pointer, but the Lady T's could not grab the rebound as PC maintained the ball out-of-bounds.

Presentation's last chance with a 3-pointer attempt by Toelle was no good and was rebounded by Britley Plautz as the Lady T's secured the victory.

DSU shot a blazing 55.6 percent from the field in the second-half (15-of-27).  PC was 13-of-32 from the field (40.6 percent), including 11-of-20 from the 3-point line (55 percent).

Vogl scored 21 points on her perfect 6-of-6 3-point field goals and 3-of-3 free-throws for Dakota State.  She tied the DSU school record for the best 3-point field goal percentage (Kary Hootman versus Huron, S.D. on Jan. 28, 1991).  Plautz was also perfect from the field, making 8-of-8 field goals (tied for fourth-best field goal percentage in total attempts in a game with Kelley Criddle, Sheila Haack and Jill Hansen) for 16 points.  Wagner added 15 points (5-of-9 field goals, 3-of-5 from the 3-point line and 2-of-2 free-throws).  Alexis Evans scored six points off the bench.  Patton and Tebben each tallied five points.

Cassie Jones pulled down seven rebounds and stole the ball twice for the Lady T's.  Patton and Plautz each added six rebounds.  Evans had five rebounds and two blocks. 

Wagner dished out a game-high seven assists for DSU.  Patton added five assists.  Valerie Chastain had three assists. 

Toelle poured in a game-high 26 points for Presentation.  She was 9-of-19 from the field, including 8-of-11 from the 3-point line.  Coz added 20 points on her 7-of-17 field goals (and 4-of-9 3-pointers).  Strauss tallied 13 points. 

Toelle earned seven rebounds for the Saints.  Cox had five rebounds and recorded four steals.  Heather Estrada contributed five assists, while Tatiana Navarro added four assists.

The Lady T's shot 50 percent overall from the field (27-of-54) compared to the Saints' 35.2 percent (25-of-71).  PC drained 17 3-pointers in 40 tries (42.5 percent), while DSU was 10-of-19 from the 3-point arc (60 percent).

Dakota State was near perfect at the free-throw line, making 8-of-9 free-throws (88.9 percent).  Presentation was 3-of-6 free-throws (50 percent).

The Lady T's won the rebounding battle, outrebounding the Saints 39-35.  DSU outscored PC 32-14 inside the paint and 10-5 in second-chance points.

Dakota State stays home Tuesday evening, stepping aside their North Star conference play.  The Lady T's host No. 10-ranked Morningside (Iowa) in a non-conference game.  Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.

Presentation will play an exhibition game at NCAA Division II Northern State (S.D.) Monday evening.  The game is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Barnett Center in Aberdeen.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director