November 20, 2018
Photos credit by Karen Giles
MADISON, S.D. – Dordt (Iowa) outrebounded Dakota State (S.D.) 61-37 Tuesday evening at DSU Fieldhouse, rolling to an 89-62 non-conference women's basketball victory. The Defenders never trailed in the game.
The Lady T's dropped their overall record to 1-6. DC raised their overall record to 7-2.
The Defenders scored the first four points of the game and never looked back. Kelley Criddle ended DSU's scoring drought with a field goal with less than eight minutes on the clock in the first period (Lady T's trailed 4-2).
Dordt only missed six shots in the first ten minutes of the game, converting 10-of-16 field goals to grab a 25-12 lead. Dakota State was held to 5-of-15 field goal shooting in the first quarter (33.3 percent).
After a 3-pointer by Jessi Giles to kick off the second quarter (DC led 25-15), the Defenders stretched its lead to 36-18 with less than six minutes to go. DC outscored DSU 21-14 in the second quarter to earn a 20-point halftime lead at 46-26.
Dordt shot 18-of-38 from the field in the first half (47.4 percent) compared to Dakota State 10-of-30 field goals (33.3 percent).
The Defenders kicked off the third quarter with a basket by Erika Feenstra to extend their lead to 48-26. The Lady T's would answer back by making three straight field goals, including back-to-back 3-pointers by Giles and Cassie Hand to trim DC's lead to 48-34 with 8:01 on the clock in the third.
Trailing 51-34, Dakota State used a 7-0 scoring run to cut their deficit down to ten points at 51-41 after a 3-pointer by McKenzie Hermanson with 4:50 left in the third quarter.
Dordt closed the third quarter with a 17-7 run to regain their 20-point lead at 68-48. Both teams scored 22 points in the first ten minutes of the second-half.
DC outscored DSU 21-14 in the final quarter to secure the victory. Both teams struggled from the field, with DSU shooting 38.2 percent (13-of-34) compared to DC 36.6 percent (15-of-41).
Giles paced the Lady T's with 15 points on her 6-of-12 field goal shooting (3-of-7 from the 3-point arc). Hermanson scored 11 points off the bench. Alexis Evans added 10 points and registered a game-high five blocked shots. Ashlyn Macdonald tallied nine points.
Cheylee Nagel had eight points and eight rebounds for DSU. Giles added six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Criddle, Macdonald and Madison Norris each dished out two assists. Giles and Hand each stole the ball twice. Raven Patton had two blocks.
Feenstra posted game-highs (double-double) of 32 points and collected 13 rebounds (8 offensive) for the Defenders. She was 13-of-20 from the field, 3-of-5 from the 3-point line and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line.
Annie Rhinesmith added 10 points, five rebounds and four assists for DC. Payton Harmsen had six points and seven assists. Feenstra and Jordyn VanMaanen each recorded two steals. Rachel Evavold had four blocks.
Dordt shot 41.8 percent overall from the field (33-of-79), including 11-of-31 from the 3-point line. Dakota State was 35.9 percent from the field (23-of-64) and 9-of-27 from the 3-point arc.
The Defenders made 12-of-19 free-throws (63.2 percent). The Lady T's struggled at the free-throw line, converting 7-of-16 free-throws (43.8 percent).
DC outscored DSU 25-12 in points off turnovers and 42-26 inside the paint. The Lady T's bench scored 31 points, while the Defenders' bench had 30 points.
Dakota State is scheduled to play an exhibition game on Monday evening at NCAA Division II and former Dakota Athletic Conference foe South Dakota Mines. Tip-off from the King Center is set for 6:30 p.m. (Central Time)/5:30 p.m. (Mountain Time) in Rapid City, Iowa.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
