December 11, 2019

Photos credits by Donald Weidler and Karen Giles

MADISON, S.D. – Trailing as many as 19 points late in the third quarter, Dakota State (S.D.) roared back as they cut their deficit to two points to nationally-ranked Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in the non-conference women's basketball contest at DSU Fieldhouse Wednesday evening.  The Tigers held off the Trojans' comeback for an 87-79 victory.

Dakota State dropped their overall record to 2-7.  Dakota Wesleyan, which fell one spot from No. 13 to No. 14 in the latest NAIA Division II Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll which was released this morning, improved their overall record to 9-3.

DWU swept the season series with DSU (Tigers won the first meeting at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls as part of the fourth annual NAIA-South Dakota Basketball Classic last month).

The Trojans head on the road, seeking to snap their losing skid on Sunday evening.  DSU visits another opponent from the Great Plains Athletic Conference, visiting Briar Cliff (Iowa).  Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at Newman Flanagan Center on the campus of Briar Cliff.

(14) Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 87, Dakota State (S.D.) 79 – FINAL

• Dakota Wesleyan and Dakota State combined scored a total of 55 points in a high-scoring affair in the first ten minutes of the game.  The Tigers, sparked by Kynedi Cheeseman with 18 points on her 7-of-10 field goals (4-of-7 from the 3-point arc), led 32-23 after the first period.
• DWU was 13-of-24 from the field (54.2 percent) and 6-of-12 from the 3-point line in the first quarter.  DSU converted 8-of-14 from the field and 4-of-7 from the 3-point line.
• Dakota Wesleyan maintained their double-digit lead between 12- and 17-point in the second quarter.  The Tigers outscored the Trojans 22-17 in the final ten minutes of the first-half, ballooning their lead to 54-40 by halftime.
• DWU made 22 baskets in 45 attempts, including 8-of-20 from the 3-point arc in the first-half.  DSU was 13-of-31 from the field and 4-of-12 3-pointers in the first twenty minutes.
• Riley Peters drained a 3-pointer capped DSU's 7-2 third quarter opening run, cutting DWU's lead to 58-47 with 7:29 on the clock.
• The Tigers would answer back with a 7-0 scoring run to widen their lead to 65-47 after a 3-pointer by Sarah Carr with 6:13 left in the third period.
• Trailing 68-49, the Trojans used a 7-2 run in the final 2:45 to reduce their deficit to 70-56.  Dakota Wesleyan and Dakota State each scored 16 points in the third quarter.
• Dakota State stormed back in the game, kicking off the fourth period by going 4-of-5 to fuel a 9-0 outburst (basket by Morgan Koepsell, a pair of field goals by Jessi Giles and a 3-pointer by Lindsey Vogl) to cut DWU's lead to 70-65 with 7:40 remaining. 
• The Tigers answered back with a 6-0 run to regain their double-digit lead at 76-65 after a field goal by Cheeseman with 5:43 left.
• Down 81-73, Koepsell scored inside the paint followed by a basket by Savannah Walsdorf (assisted by Giles) as DSU trailed 81-77 with 2:18 to go in the game.
• DWU missed four shots on the following possession as the Trojans regained possession. Tiger Cheeseman committed a foul, sending Waldsdorf to the free-throw line for two attempts.  Waldsdorf converted both free-throws as they Trojans cut DWU's lead to 81-79 with 1:08 left.
• Dakota Wesleyan secured the game by closing the game with a 6-0 run in the final 40 seconds.
• The Trojans outscored the Tigers 23-17 in the fourth period.  DSU was 9-of-14 from the field while holding DWU to 5-of-18 from the field.
• Giles paced Dakota State with 22 points on her 7-of-12 field goal shooting.  She was 7-of-9 from the free-throw line.  She also dished out five assists and pulled down seven rebounds.  Koepsell scored 17 points off the bench after going 7-of-10 from the field and 3-of-5 free-throws.  She registered three blocks.
• Walsdorf tallied 11 points for the Trojans.  She grabbed eight rebounds and recorded four assists.  Vogl and Sidney Fick each had eight points. 
• Cheeseman fueled the Tigers' offense with 31 points.  She was 11-of-24 from the field (4-of-14 3-pointers) and 5-of-6 at the free-throw line.  She earned nine rebounds and recorded four assists.  Carr added 17 points and three assists.
• Matti Reiner tallied 15 points for DWU.  Makaela Karst added 10 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks.  Kaylee Kirk grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, dished out nine assists and stole the ball four times.
• Dakota State shot 45.2 percent overall from the field (28-of-62) compared to Dakota Wesleyan 42.5 percent (34-of-80).  The Tigers were 11-of-32 from the 3-point line (34.4 percent), while the Trojans were 7-of-25 3-pointers (28 percent).
• DSU struggled from the free-throw line, making 16-of-23 free-throws (66.7 percent).  DWU was 8-of-10 free-throws (80 percent).
• Dakota Wesleyan outrebounded Dakota State 46-40.  The Tigers outscored the Trojans 16-10 in second-chance points.
• DSU outscored DWU 41-8 in bench points and 36-28 inside the paint.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director