October 25, 2018

Photos credits by Donald Weidler

MADISON, S.D. – Nationally-ranked No. 8 Northwestern (Iowa) outrebounded Dakota State (S.D.) 60-30 Thursday evening, cruising to a 99-58 college women's basketball season opener at DSU Fieldhouse.

The Red Raiders, who advanced to last year's NAIA Division II Women's Basketball national semifinals, scored the game's first 12 points and never trailed in the game.  NWIA led 12-0 with four minutes and fifty seconds on the clock in the first quarter.

The Lady T's snapped their scoring drought with a pair of free-throws by Alexis Robson with 4:15 on the clock (DSU trailed 12-2).

Northwestern shot 9-of-18 from the field (including 3-of-7 from the 3-point line) to grab a 23-4 lead over Dakota State by the end of the first quarter.  The Lady T's were held to one basket in 11 attempts.

NWIA led DSU 47-20 by halftime.  NWIA was 20-of-44 from the field (45.5 percent) compared to DSU 4-of-24 field goals (16.7 percent).

Both teams shot 50 percent from the field in the third quarter, where NWIA led 75-43 by the end of the period.  The Red Raiders were 10-of-20 field goals, while the Lady T's were 8-of-16 field goals and 4-of-6 from the 3-point arc.

Northwestern outscored Dakota State 24-15 in the final ten minutes of the game.

Jessi Giles led the Lady T's with 11 points.  Cheylee Nagel scored nine points off the bench.  Ashlyn Macdonald had eight points.  Robson tallied six points.

Macdonald, Olivia Breske and Cora Peterson each pulled down four rebounds for DSU.  Raven Patton and Nagel each registered two blocked shots.  Breske stole the ball three times.  Robson dished out four assists.

All five starters scored in double digits for the Red Raiders, paced by Darbi Gustafson with a double-double of 29 points and 13 rebounds.  She stole the ball six times and recorded four blocks.  Kassidy De Jong added a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds.  She dished out a game-high seven assists.  Haley Birks had 18 points.  Breana Schuiteman had 11 points.

Northwestern shot 46.9 percent overall from the field, making 38 field goals in 81 attempts.  Dakota State was 15-of-54 from the field (27.8 percent).  The Red Raiders were 7-of-22 from the 3-point line (31.8 percent), while the Lady T's were 6-of-21 3-pointers (28.6 percent).

DSU went to the free-throw line 34 times, converting 22 free-throws (64.7 percent).  NWIA was 16-of-23 free-throws (69.6 percent).

Northwestern grabbed 30 offensive rebounds and 30 defensive rebounds in the game.  The Red Raiders outscored the Lady T's 26-4 in second-chance points.  NWIA outscored DSU 58-14 inside the paint. 

DSU's bench outscored NWIA's bench 26-18.

Dakota State heads on the road for the first time on Tuesday, visiting another opponent from the Great Plains Athletic Conference.  The Lady T's visit Briar Cliff (Iowa) in a non-conference action.  Tip-off from the Newman-Flanagan is set for 7 p.m. in Sioux City, Iowa.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director