November 4, 2018

Photos credit by Karen Giles

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Mount Marty (S.D.) took advantage of 32-of-42 free-throws Sunday afternoon, pulling away past Dakota State (S.D.) 79-71 on the second day of the South Dakota/NAIA Basketball Classic at Sanford Pentagon.

Dakota State dropped their overall record to 0-4.  Mount Marty lifted their overall record to 3-0.

Alexis Robson hit a basket to give DSU its first lead of the game at 2-0 with nine minutes and 30 seconds on the clock.  The Lancers went on a 9-0 run to post a 9-2 lead with 7:36 to go in the first quarter.  However, the Lady T's answered back by scoring eight straight points to regain their lead at 10-9 with 5:27 left in first.

The Lancers ended the first period with a 9-3 run for an 18-13 lead.

Dakota State kicked off the second quarter by scoring six straight points from three different scorers (Kelley Criddle, Olivia Breske and Cheylee Nagel) for a 19-18 lead with 8:02 on the clock.

The Lancers and Lady T's kept the game close throughout the second quarter, with the lead no more than three points.  Nagel completed a 3-point play as DSU's lead widen to 33-29 with 1:34 left before intermission.

MMC closed the second quarter with an 8-0 run to take a 37-33 halftime advantage.  The Lady T's were 13-of-31 from the field (41.9 percent) and 4-of-6 free-throws in the first-half.  The Lancers converted 9-of-22 field goals and 15-of-20 free-throws in the first twenty minutes of the game.

A 3-pointer by Karissa Chamley gave the Lancers its biggest lead of the game at 61-49 with less than 35 seconds to go in the third period.  Jessi Giles drained a 3-pointer with less than 25 seconds remaining, as DSU trailed 61-52 by the end of the third.

Trailing 63-52 in the fourth period, the Lady T's used four different scorers (Nagel, Norris, Aubrey Miedema and Raven Patton) that sparked a 10-0 scoring outburst to trim MMC's lead to 63-62 with 6:23 remaining.

Dakota State was held scoreless late in the game as Mount Marty pulled away for the victory.  The Lancers regained their double-digit lead at 79-69 with less than 15 seconds left before DSU's Ashlyn Macdonald hit a basket when the game ended.

Mount Marty shot 48 percent from the field in the second-half (12-of-25 field goals) compared to Dakota State 39.4 percent (13-of-33).  The Lancers were 17-of-22 free-throws, while the Lady T's were 6-of-11 from the free-throw line.

Nagel scored 15 points and pulled down six rebounds off the bench for DSU.  Robson added 10 points and stole the ball three times.  Giles tallied eight points.  Breske had six points.

Macdonald and Robson each dished out three assists for the Lady T's.  Patton had five rebounds, two blocks and two steals. 

Sammy Kasowski had a double-double of 17 points and collected 11 rebounds for the Lancers.  Jamie Tebben added 12 points and seven rebounds.  Ali Kuca had 11 points.  Chamley and Kaylee Granum each had eight points.

Mikyla Prouty produced four assists for MMC.  Tebben stole the ball three times.

Mount Marty shot 44.7 percent overall from the field (21-of-47 field goals) compared to Dakota State 40.6 percent (26-of-64 field goals).  The Lady T's were 9-of-29 3-pointers (31 percent), while the Lancers were 5-of-20 from the 3-point line (25 percent).

MMC outrebounded DSU 40-34.  Both teams scored 30 points inside the paint. 

Dakota State continues their action on the road on Saturday.  The Lady T's visit McPherson (Kan.) at McPherson Sport Center.  Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director