December 2, 2019

Photos credit by Karen Giles

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – The Dakota State (S.D.) University Trojan women's basketball team returned to action for the first time in 20 days (last game played on Nov. 12 at DSU Fieldhouse) Monday at DeWitt Gymnasium, playing in its first road game of the 2019-20 season.  The Trojans battled tough in the game as the nationally-ranked Dordt (Iowa) pulled away for a 90-76 non-conference victory.

Dakota State fell to 2-5 overall record.  Dordt, ranked No. 5 in the first edition of the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, lifted their overall record to 10-1.

The game was originally scheduled for Nov. 26 as was postponed to Monday due to winter storm.

DSU returns home Saturday, opening their 14-game North Star Athletic Association conference schedule against their traveling partner Bellevue (Neb.).  Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.

(5) Dordt (Iowa) 90, Dakota State (S.D.) 76 – FINAL

• The Trojans open the game with an 8-4 lead with seven minutes and forty-eight seconds on the clock in the first period, thanks to a basket by Morgan Koepsell and a 3-pointer by Lindsey Vogl as part of DSU's 5-0 scoring run.
• Trailing 13-9, Dordt used a 10-0 outburst to grab a 19-13 lead with 3:16 left in the first, capped by three straight baskets by Erika Feenstra.
• Down 22-16, Olivia Breske scored the final four points in less than a minute as the Trojans cut the Defenders' lead to 22-20.
• Dakota State shot 38.9 percent from the field (7-of-18 field goals) in the first ten minutes of the game compared to Dordt 38.1 percent (8-of-21 field goals).
• The Defenders maintained their lead in the second quarter, outscoring the Trojans 20-12 to balloon their lead to 42-32 by halftime.  Both teams struggled from the field in the first-half, with DC shooting 35.9 percent (14-of-39 field goals) and DSU 32.4 percent (11-of-34 field goals).  The Defenders went 10-of-12 free-throws while the Trojans were 6-of-7 free-throws.
• Dakota State sparked the third quarter with a 13-2 scoring surge, highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers by Sidney Fick as the Trojans regained their lead to 45-44 with 7:05 on the clock.
• DSU's lead was short-lived as DC answered with a 9-0 scoring run to grab a 53-45 lead after a 3-point play by Feenstra with less than five minutes to go in the third.
• Leading 53-49, Dordt outscored Dakota State 17-2 in the final 3:38 of the third quarter to balloon their lead to 70-51.  The Defenders outscored the Trojans 28-19 in the first ten minutes of the second-half.
• Dakota State could get no closer than 14 points on two different occasions (78-64 with 5:58 remaining and 90-76 with less than 20 seconds left.
• The Trojans outscored the Defenders 25-20 in the final ten minutes of the game.  DC was 17-of-34 from the field (50 percent) in the second-half compared to DSU 14-of-30 field goals (46.7 percent).
• Four DSU players hit double figures, paced by Fick and Jessi Giles with 14 points each.  Vogl and Koepsell each added 13 points.  Breske and Savannah Walsdorf each scored six points.
• Koepsell grabbed six rebounds and registered a game-high four blocks for the Trojans.  Ashlyn Macdonald and Walsdorf each added five rebounds.  Vogl dished out four assists.  Breske and Koepsell each stole the ball twice.
• Feenstra poured in a game-high 27 points on her 10-of-17 field goal shooting and made all seven free-throw attempts for the Defenders.  She also earned eight rebounds.  Gabby Kreykes scored 13 points off the bench, while Karly Gustafson added 11 points.  Payton Harmsen and Mya Chmielewski each had nine points.
• Jordyn Van Maanen produced four assists for DC.  Kreykes stole the ball five times.
• Dordt shot 42.5 percent overall from the field (31-of-73) compared to Dakota State 39.1 percent (25-of-64).  The Trojans were 10-of-32 from the 3-point arc (31.3 percent) while the Defenders were 6-of-22 3-pointers.
• DC converted 22-of-26 free-throws (84.6 percent).  DSU was 16-of-22 at the free-throw line (72.7 pecent).
• The Defenders outrebounded the Trojans 49-38.  DSU outscored DC 10-8 in points off turnovers.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director