November 2, 2019

Photos credit by Karen Giles

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Nationally-ranked No. 7 Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) stormed to a 34-14 lead after the first ten minutes and never looked back for a 94-74 victory on the first day of the fourth annual NAIA South Dakota Pentagon Basketball Classic at Sanford Pentagon. 

Dakota State fell to 0-3 overall record.  Dakota Wesleyan remained undefeated with a 2-0 overall record.

The Trojans continue their action on the second day of the tournament, facing another rival Mount Marty (S.D.).  Tip-off is scheduled for 12 noon at Sanford Pentagon.

(7) Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 94, Dakota State (S.D.) 74 – FINAL

• Both teams went through three lead changes in the first 1:30 of the game.  The Trojans earned the first lead of the game at 1-0 after a free-throw by Olivia Breske with 9:14 on the clock.
• The Tigers posted its first double-digit lead of the game at 19-9 after a basket by Jessica Mieras with less than four minutes left in the first period.  DWU would close the first quarter with a 15-5 run for a 34-14 lead. 
• Dakota Wesleyan shot 76.5 percent from the field (13-of-17 field goals) compared to Dakota State 40 percent (6-of-15 field goals) in the first quarter.
• Trailing 46-20 late in the second quarter, the Trojans used a 13-3 outburst in the final 3:37, cutting DWU's lead to 49-33 by halftime.  DSU outscored DWU 19-15 in the second period.
• Dakota Wesleyan shot 54.3 percent from the field in the first-half (19-of-35) compared to Dakota State 46.2 percent (12-of-26).
• The Trojans held the Tigers scoreless for the first three-plus minutes of the third quarter, extending their scoring run to 17-3 after a basket by Jessi Giles and Morgan Koepsell.  DSU trailed 49-37 with 7 minutes on the clock in the third.
• DWU regained their lead to 72-52 by the end of the third quarter.  Both teams scored 22 points in the final quarter.
• All 12 Trojan players scored in the game, paced by Koepsell with 18 points off the bench.  She was 7-of-10 from the field and 4-of-7 free-throws.  She also had four rebounds.  Giles added nine points.  Sidney Fick and Breske each tallied eight points.
• Fick and Savannah Walsdorf each pulled down five rebounds for DSU.  Fick dished out three assists.  Giles, Ashlyn Macdonald, Courtney Menning and Lexi Robson each added two assists.  Menning stole the ball three times.
• Kynedi Cheeseman poured in 23 points on her 8-of-15 field goals and 6-of-7 free-throws for DWU.  Makaela Karst and Sarah Carr each added 17 points (each with 6-of-10 field goals).  Kamryn Heinz scored 10 points off the bench.
• Karst had a game-high seven rebounds for the Tigers.  Cheeseman and Haylee Mork each had five rebounds.  Kaylee Kirk produced 10 assists.  Cheeseman had three steals.
• Dakota Wesleyan shot 49.3 percent overall from the field (34-of-69 field goals) compared to Dakota State 44.2 percent (23-of-52 field goals).  The Trojans converted 22-of-34 free-throws (64.7 percent), while the Tigers were 18-of-21 free-throws (85.7 percent).
• DSU outrebounded DWU 37-35.  The Tigers outscored the Trojans 19-9 in second-chance points.  Dakota State outscored Dakota Wesleyan 44-28 in bench points.
• Both teams will play their second meeting of the season at DSU Fieldhouse on Dec. 11.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director