January 13, 2018

FOREST CITY, Iowa – Down 14-13 after the first quarter Saturday afternoon at Hanson Fieldhouse, Dakota State (S.D.) used a second-quarter surge to propel past Waldorf (Iowa) for a 77-56 North Star Athletic Association women's basketball conference victory.  It was the second straight victory for the Lady T's.

DSU raised their overall record to 8-13 and moved in a three-way tie for third-place in the NSAA conference standings with 5-3 record (No. 23 Mayville State, N.D. and Bellevue, Neb.).  WU lost their fifth straight game, dropping their overall record to 4-13 and 2-6 NSAA conference record.

The game featured four lead changes and one tie in the first ten minutes.  Trailing 14-11, Britley Plautz made a field goal as DSU trimmed WU's lead down to 14-13 with 45 seconds on the clock. 

With the Warriors leading 20-19, the Lady T's closed the second quarter strong by using a 17-4 run in the final 4:28.  Kennedy Wagner nailed down a basket with just few seconds before halftime, giving the Lady T's a 36-24 lead.

Dakota State shot 45.2 percent from the field (14-of-31) in the first-half and held Waldorf to 27.3 percent (9-of-33 percent.). 

DSU continued its scoring surge by scoring eight straight points to open up the third period, ballooning their lead to 44-24 with 5:38 to go after a 3-pointer by Shelby Vogel.  The Lady T's outscored the Warriors 21-11 in the third quarter to take a 57-32 lead.

Lindsey Vogl made a basket with 9:27 remaining to give Dakota State its biggest lead of the game at 59-34.  The Lady T's also held the largest lead of the game at 77-53 after a pair of free-throws by Jamie Tebben with 46 seconds to go.

DSU outscored WU 41-33 in the final twenty minutes of the game.  The Lady T's shot a sizzling 51.9 percent from the field (14-of-27), including 5-of-10 from the 3-point arc.  The Warriors were held to 32.4 percent from the field (12-of-37).

Five Lady T's scored double figures in the game, led by Plautz with 15 points.  She was 7-of-10 from the field.  Vogl added 14 points.  Tebben tallied 13 points off the bench.  Wagner scored 12 points (5-of-7 field goals).  Vogel had 11 points.  Cassie Hand recorded six points.

Plautz grabbed nine rebounds and registered two blocks for Dakota State.  Tebben collected six rebounds and a block.  Kelley Criddle also had a block.

Wagner contributed five assists and stole the ball twice for DSU.  Plautz and Vogl each dished out three assists.  Tebben had two steals.

Ameh Ogbemudia led the Warriors with 22 points off the bench.  She was 8-of-15 from the field and 6-of-11 from the free-throw line.  Michaela Graffunder added 15 points. 

Graffunder, Ogbemudia and Angie Gore each earned five rebounds for WU.  Nichole Oberthien and Samantha Birkes each recorded three assists.  Graffunder stole the ball three times.

Dakota State shot 48.3 percent overall from the field (28-of-58) compared to Waldorf 30 percent (21-of-70).  The Lady T's were 8-of-19 from the 3-point line (42.1 percent), while the Warriors were 5-of-17 3-pointers (29.4 percent).

DSU was 13-of-15 from the free-throw line (86.7 percent).  WU converted 9-of-16 free-throws.

The Lady T's outrebounded the Warriors 45-39 in the game.  DSU outscored WU 34-22 inside the paint.

Dakota State, who is currently 2-0 record on the current six-game North Star conference road stretch, remains on the road next weekend for another pair of conference contests.  The Lady T's kick off the second-half portion of the NSAA conference schedule, visiting Presentation (S.D.).  Tip-off from the Strode Center is set for 5:30 p.m. in Aberdeen, S.D.

Next Saturday, DSU visits the North Star's conference leader No. 6-ranked Jamestown (N.D.) at 3 p.m.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director