December 9, 2018
PHOTO GALLERY - Photos credit by Cody Welu
MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) jumped to a 7-0 early lead over Briar Cliff (Iowa) Sunday afternoon in the non-conference women's basketball action at DSU Fieldhouse. The Chargers pulled away late in the game, outscoring the Lady T's 48-34 in the final twenty minutes of the game for an 83-61 victory.
Dakota State fell to 1-8 overall record. Briar Cliff, receiving votes in the latest NAIA Division II Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, lifted their overall record to 7-5.
The Chargers missed the first eight shots and committed four turnovers in the first five minutes of the game, allowing the Lady T's grab a 7-0 lead. BCU ended its scoring drought with a 3-pointer by Alyssa Carley with 4:22 on the clock in the first period (DSU led 7-3).
Briar Cliff went on a 7-0 run within 34 seconds as they rallied back to knot the game at 7-7 with 3:48 left in the opening quarter. The Chargers led 16-12 by the end of the first period.
DSU regained their lead at 17-16 with after McKenzie Hermanson drained a 3-pointer to kick off the second quarter, followed by a basket by Kelley Criddle with 8:32 left.
With BCU leading 24-22, the Chargers went on a 6-0 run to stretch their lead to 30-22 with 2:48 remaining before halftime.
A pair of free-throws by Lady T Jessi Giles cut Chargers' lead to 30-27. Briar Cliff scored the final five points of the second period, ballooning their lead to 35-27 by halftime.
Both teams struggled from the field in the first twenty minutes of the game. BCU shot 35.1 percent (13-of-37) compared to DSU 33.3 percent (10-of-30).
Briar Cliff continued its scoring run to start the third quarter, recording the first double-digit lead at 37-27 with 9:47 on the clock.
The Lady T's rallied back to reduce Chargers' lead down to six points at 42-36 after two free-throws by Giles.
BCU closed the third period with a 16-5 outburst to stretch their lead to 58-41. The Chargers went 9-of-18 from the field (50 percent), while holding the Lady T's to 38.5 percent (5-of-13 field goals).
Dakota State could get no closer than 12 points at 62-50 with 7:16 left after a basket by Giles. Briar Cliff outscored DSU 25-20 in the fourth quarter.
Ashlyn Macdonald posted a double-double of 12 points and pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds for the Lady T's. Hermanson added 13 points and six rebounds. Giles tallied 10 points. Alexis Evans and Raven Patton each added six points.
Alexis Robson registered five points, five assists and five rebounds for Dakota State. Patton had three blocks. Giles and Robson each stole the ball three times.
Taylor Vasa led the Chargers with a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds. She recorded four steals. Taylor Wagner added 14 points and four assists. Carley had 11 points.
Briar Cliff shot 43.3 percent overall from the field (29-of-67) compared to Dakota State 35.4 percent (23-of-65). The Lady T's were 8-of-36 3-pointers, while the Chargers were 4-of-19 from the 3-point line.
BCU went to the free-throw line 28 times, converting 21 free-throws (75 percent). DSU was 7-of-10 free-throws (70 percent).
The Lady T's had a slight rebounding edge over the Chargers (44-43). Both teams collected 14 rebounds.
Briar Cliff outscored Dakota State 26-14 in points off turnovers and 44-24 inside the paint.
Dakota State kicks off their five-game stretch away from the DSU Fieldhouse on Wednesday, facing another opponent from the Great Plains Athletic Conference. The Lady T's head to the Corn Palace to take on No. 2-ranked Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.). Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. in Mitchell, S.D.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
