December 28, 2018

Photos credit by Karen Giles

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – No. 13-ranked Dordt (Iowa) took advantage on the boards Friday afternoon, outrebounding Dakota State (S.D.) 49-37 and 16-4 on offensive rebounds for an 80-57 victory on the first day of the Pizza Ranch Classic at Bultman Center.  The two-day women's basketball tournament was hosted by Northwestern (Iowa).

Dakota State fell to 1-11 overall record.  Dordt lifted their overall record to 12-4 and completed the season series sweep with the Lady T's (Defenders won the first meeting at DSU Fieldhouse on Nov. 20).

Two ties and two lead changes were recorded in the first four-plus minute of the game.  A 3-pointer by Cassie Hand gave DSU a 7-4 lead with 6:16 on the clock in the first period.

The Defenders went on a 9-0 scoring surge to overtake a 13-7 lead with 4:15 left in the first quarter.  McKenzie Hermanson drained a 3-pointer to cut DC's lead to 15-11 with less than three minutes in the first, but the Defenders closed the period with a 6-0 run to balloon their lead to 21-11.

Dordt outrebounded Dakota State 17-7 in the first quarter, including 7-1 on the offensive board.

The Defenders outscored the Lady T's 25-13 to widen their lead to 46-24 by halftime.  DC maintain their double-digit lead for the rest of the game, leading 64-33 after the third quarter.

DSU outscored Dordt 24-16 in the final quarter.

Twelve different Lady T's scored in the game, led by Hermanson with nine points.  Alexis Evans and Ashlyn Macdonald each added seven points.  Jessi Giles and Alexis Robson each scored six points.

Macdonald grabbed five rebounds for Dakota State.  Giles, Robson and Hand each produced two assists.  Giles stole the ball twice.

Erika Feenstra and Ebby Prewitt each poured in 13 points for the Defenders.  Payton Harmsen and Mari Smitsdorff each had nine points.  Rachel Evavold pulled down eight rebounds and produced four assists.  Feenstra had seven rebounds.  Annie Rhinesmith had three steals.

Both teams struggled from the field, shooting below 40 percent.  The Defenders shot 36.2 percent overall from the field (25-of-69) compared to the Lady T's 33.3 percent (18-of-54).  DC was 9-of-26 from the 3-point line (34.6 percent), while DSU was 8-of-31 3-pointers (25.8 percent).

Dordt went to the free-throw line 31 times, making 21 free-throws (67.7 percent).  Dakota State was 13-of-17 free-throws (76.5 percent). 

The Defenders outscored the Lady T's 17-5 on second-chance points and 19-14 in points off turnovers.

DSU closes out the Pizza Ranch Classic Saturday afternoon against another nationally-ranked and host-team, No. 5 Northwestern.  Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. at Bultman Center.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director