January 27, 2018

DICKINSON, N.D. – After Dickinson State (N.D.) took a 56-55 lead in the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Women's Basketball conference action at Scott Gymnasium Saturday afternoon, Dakota State shut down the Blue Hawks 6-0 in the final 1:53 of the game to earn a 61-56 victory.

Dakota State concluded their 6-game North Star conference road trip with a 3-3 record, improving their overall record to 9-16 and 6-6 NSAA conference record.  Dickinson State fell to 4-17 overall record and remained winless in 11 NSAA conference games.  It was the first time since the 2007-08 season that Dakota State completed a season-series sweep over Dickinson State (both teams were in the former Dakota Athletic Conference that time).

The Lady T's opened up the game with a 4-0 lead (a field goal by Kelley Criddle and a pair of free-throws by Kennedy Wagner).  DaSU kept the Blue Hawks scoreless for the first four minutes of the game.  DiSU snapped their scoring drought with a basket by Chelsey Borden with 5:52 on the clock in the first period (DaSU led 4-2).

Both teams struggled from the field, where the Blue Hawks ended the first quarter with a 10-4 run for a 12-8 lead.  Dickinson State shot 31.3 percent from the field (5-of-16 field goals), while holding Dakota State to 18.8 percent (3-of-16 field goals).

A basket by Madison Hansen gave the Blue Hawks its biggest lead of the game at 21-13 with 3:42 left before intermission.  The Lady T's then used a 5-0 run to cut DiSU's lead down to 21-18 with 2:16 on the clock.

Dickinson State maintained a 24-19 halftime advantage over Dakota State.  Both teams shot below 30 percent in the first-half, with the Blue Hawks shooting 9-of-36 field goals (25 percent) compared to the Lady T's 7-of-35 field goals (20 percent).

DiSU opened up with a 26-20 lead in the third quarter before DaSU rallied back to regain their lead.  A pair of free-throws by Jamie Tebben capped the Lady T's 10-3 spurt for a 30-29 lead with 5:27 on the clock. 

Both teams traded leads seven times and tied the game four times in the third quarter.  Trailing 42-41, Lindsey Vogl drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Cassie Jones) gave the Lady T's a 44-42 lead before heading into the fourth period.  DaSU outscored DiSU 25-18 in the third quarter.

Dakota State and Dickinson State went through six lead changes and four ties in the first eight minutes of the fourth quarter.  Tied at 55-55, Lacey Waid hit 1-of-2 free-throw to give the Blue Hawks a 56-55 lead with 2:12 remaining.

Vogl added another 3-pionter to give DaSU a 58-56 lead with 1:53 left.  Jones added a free-throw to put the Lady T's up 59-56 with 9.8 seconds remaining.  The Blue Hawks failed to score, while Tebben added a pair of free-throws to secure the victory for Dakota State.

The Lady T's outscored the Blue Hawks 42-32 in the final twenty minutes of the game.

A total of 16 lead changes and 10 ties were registered in the game.

Wagner scored a game-high 17 points for Dakota State.  Tebben tallied 15 points off the bench (4-of-8 field goals and converted all six free-throw attempts).  Vogl added 10 points.  Leah Marsh scored eight points. 

Raven Patton pulled down a season-high 13 rebounds for the Lady T's.  Tebben added seven rebounds.  Alexis Evans had four blocked shots in the game.  Patton and Criddle each recorded three blocked shots.

Jones and Vogl each dished out two assists for DaSU.  Patton, Jones, Wagner, Tebben and Evans each had a steal.

Karen Hopkins led Dickinson State with 11 points.  Riley Helmick scored nine points off the bench.  Waid and Hansen each contributed eight points.

Hopkins and Borden each produced three assists for the Blue Hawks.  Hopkins stole the ball three times.

Dickinson State shot 32.8 percent overall from the field (21-of-64) compared to Dakota State 25.4 percent (18-of-71).  The Lady T's were 6-of-27 from the 3-point arc, while the Blue Hawks were 5-of-15 3-pointers.

DaSU went to the free-throw line 26 times, making 19 attempts (73.1 percent).  DiSU struggled at the free-throw line, making 9-of-19 free-throws (47.4 percent).

Dickinson State outrebounded Dakota State 52-49 in the game.  The Lady T's outscored the Blue Hawks 11-4 in second-chance points. 

Dakota State returns home Friday to conclude their two-game home stand at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Lady T's continue their North Star conference action versus Waldorf (Iowa).  Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.  'Black-Out Night' will be the theme for the game to help raise cancer awareness.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director