January 11, 2020

DICKINSON, N.D.– Dakota State (S.D.) stormed to a 26-point lead in the second quarter and never look back, dominating Dickinson State (N.D.) 82-56 in the North Star Athletic Association women's basketball conference contest at Scott Gymnasium Saturday afternoon.  The Trojans, who shot 47 percent from the field, earned its first conference win of the season.

Dakota State improved their overall record to 6-11, while Dickinson State fell to 5-11 overall record.  The Trojans earned its fifth straight victory over the Blue Hawks in the series meeting. 

Both teams along with Waldorf (Iowa) are in a three-way tie for fifth in the conference standings with a 1-2 record.

The Trojans return home next weekend to kick off their five-game home stand at DSU Fieldhouse.  Dakota State hosts the lone conference leader No. 21-ranked Mayville State (N.D.) on Friday at 5:30 p.m.  Next Saturday, DaSU welcomes Presentation (S.D.) in the second annual 'Ag Ball' game with a tip-off starting at 3 p.m.

Dakota State (S.D.) 82, Dickinson State (N.D.) 56 – FINAL

• Dickinson State opened the game with a 3-0 lead after a 3-pointer by Ashlie Larson with nine minutes and thirty-six seconds on the clock.  The Blue Hawks' lead was short-lived while the Trojans went on to score nine straight points to a 9-3 lead with 6:03 on the clock.
• Leading 11-8, Dakota State held Dickinson State to three points in the final 5:15 of the first quarter.  The Trojans used a monstrous 14-3 scoring run to balloon their lead to 25-11 after a basket by Ashlyn Macdonald.
• DaSU shot a blazing 58.8 percent from the field in the first ten minutes of the game, making 10 baskets in 17 attempts.  DiSU was limited to 28.6 percent shooting from the field (4-of-14 field goals).
• The Trojans continued its red-hot shooting in the second-quarter, outscoring the Blue Hawks 19-9 to widen their lead to 44-20.  DaSU recorded its biggest lead of the game at 44-18 after a basket by Cheylee Nagel with 1:36 to go before intermission.
• Dakota State shot 54.8 percent from the field in the first twenty minutes of the game (17-of-31) and held Dickinson State to 25.8 percent (8-of-31 field goals).
• The Blue Hawks could get no closer than 11 points at 52-41 with less than three minutes to go in the third period.  DaSU led 59-43 by the end of the third, despite being outscored by DiSU 23-15.
• The Trojans maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the game, outscoring the Blue Hawks 23-13 in the final quarter. 
• Twelve different Trojan players scored in the game, led by Morgan Koepsell with a double-double of 18 points and a season-high 12 rebounds.  She was 7-of-12 from the field, including 2-of-3 from the 3-point line, and converted both free-throw attempts.  Savannah Walsdorf added 14 points (6-of-9 field goals) and earned seven rebounds.
• Sidney Fick and Jessi Giles each scored eight points for Dakota State.  Nagel tallied six points off the bench.  Lexi Robson contributed five assists (season-high) and stole the ball four times.
• Ashlie Watts led the Blue Hawks with 14 points.  Mackenzi Reed scored eight points off the bench.   Danielle Wallace had seven points and five rebounds.  Dakota Dosch stole the ball three times.
• Dakota State shot 31-of-66 from the field compared to Dickinson State 22-of-68 field goals (32.4 percent).  The Blue Hawks were 10-of-37 from the 3-point line while the Trojans were 9-of-28 3-pointers.
• DaSU hit 11-of-16 free-throws (68.8 percent) compared to DiSU 2-of-4 free-throws.
• The Trojans pulled down 52 rebounds and limited the Blue Hawks to 29 rebounds. 

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director