January 5, 2018

PHOTO GALLERY - Photos credits by Cody Welu

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) opened up with a quick eight-point lead over Dickinson State (N.D.) Friday evening in the North Star Athletic Association Women's Basketball conference action at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Lady T's never trailed in the game as they cruised past the Blue Hawks to kick off the New Year with an 85-50 victory.

Dakota State improved to 6-11 overall record and 3-2 record in North Star conference.  Dickinson State dropped their sixth straight game, falling to 4-12 overall record and winless in six NSAA conference games.

It was the first win for the Lady T's over the Blue Hawks since Feb. 15, 2008 (DaSU won by the score of 93-47).  Dickinson State had won the last 13 meetings. 

Kennedy Wagner and Cassie Jones each combined for 11 points and three assists to give the Lady T's an 11-3 lead with 7 minute, 5 seconds on the clock in the first period. 

DaSU continued to balloon their biggest lead of the opening quarter at 25-7 after a 3-pointer by Cassie Hand with 1:29 on the clock. 

The Lady T's shot 45 percent from the field (9-of-20 field goals) - including 5-of-10 from the 3-point line - in the first ten minutes of the game, propelling to a 25-12 lead.  The Blue Hawks were held to 35.7 percent from the field (5-of-14).

Dakota State maintained their double-digit lead in the second quarter, leading as many as 17 points at 33-16 (after a basket by Britley Plautz with 6:32 on the clock). 

The Blue Hawks trimmed the Lady T's into single digit with less than a minute to go after a 3-point play by Chelsey Borden with 22 seconds to go in the game (DaSU led 37-30).

Wagner extended DaSU's lead to 39-30 with a basket inside the paint just few ticks before halftime.

Dakota State shot 47.1 percent from the field in the first-half (16-of-34) compared to Dickinson State 30.6 percent (11-of-36).

Leading 48-36 in the third quarter, the Lady T's roared with a 14-0 outburst in a span of three-and-half minutes.  DaSU expanded their lead to 62-36 with less than four minutes to go after a basket by Shelby Vogel.

Dakota State outscored Dickinson State 30-10 in the third period, earning a 69-40 commanding lead.

A 3-pointer by Hand give the Lady T's its biggest lead of the game at 82-47 with 3:38 remaining.

DaSU outscored the Blue Hawks 46-20 in the final twenty minutes of the game.  Dakota State was 15-of-33 from the field (45.5 percent) in the second-half, while holding Dickinson State to 18.2 percent (6-of-33).

Eleven Lady T's scored in the game, led by Plautz with her fourth double-double this season.  She scored 18 points on her 7-of-10 field goals and 4-of-4 free-throws.  She also pulled down 11 rebounds.  Wagner added 16 points (5-of-7 field goals), while Jones tallied eight points.  Wagner and Jones each went 2-of-2 from the 3-point arc.

Lindsey Vogl scored 13 points for Dakota State.  Hand recorded eight points off the bench. 

Tebben grabbed 11 rebounds for DaSU.  Raven Patton added seven rebounds.  Wagner and Vogel each produced five assists. 

Leah Marsh stole the ball twice for the Lady T's.  Plautz registered five blocked shots in the game.  Kelley Criddle had two blocks.

Borden led the Blue Hawks with 13 points.  Karen Hopkins tallied 10 points.  Lacey Waid had nine points.  Robin Karahan grabbed 10 rebounds.

Borden stole the ball six times in the game for Dickinson State.  Jennifer Burnham had three assists.  Waid recorded two blocks.

The Lady T's shot 46.3 percent overall from the field (31-of-67) compared to the Blue hawks 24.6 percent (17-of-69).  DaSU was 9-of-22 3-pointers (40.9 percent), while DiSU went 2-of-13 from the 3-piont line (15.4 percent).

Dakota State was near perfect from the free-throw line, converting 14-of-15 free-throws (93.3 percent).  Dickinson State made 14 free-throws in 24 attempts (58.3 percent).

DaSU grabbed a season-high 60 rebounds (18 offense) in the game and outrebounded DiSU by 27 rebounds (Blue Hawks earned 33 rebounds in the game).

The Lady T's outscored the Blue Hawks 36-24 inside the paint and 30-9 in bench points.

Dakota State continues their regular-season nine-game home stand Saturday afternoon as they host No. 19-ranked Valley City State (N.D.).  Tip-off from the DSU Fieldhouse is set for 3 p.m.

Dickinson State returns home Monday as they host Oglala Lakota (S.D.) in a non-conference game at 5 p.m. (Central Time)/4 p.m. (Mountain Time).

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director