January 19, 2020

Photos credit by Karen Giles

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) missed a game-tying shot at the buzzer that would force the North Star Athletic Association women's basketball contest into extra period, falling short for an upset bid to the conference leader Mayville State (N.D.) by the score of 66-64 at DSU Fieldhouse.

The Trojans fell to 6-12 overall record and 1-3 record in North Star conference games.  The Comets, ranked No. 16 in the latest NAIA Division II Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, won their sixth straight game to lift their overall record to 15-2 and remained in sole possession for first-place with a 4-0 NSAA record.

The game was originally scheduled for last Friday (Jan. 17), but severe winter storm had prompted to postpone to contest to Sunday evening.

Dakota State remains home as they play a non-conference contest against in-state rival Mount Marty (S.D.) Wednesday evening.  The junior varsity gets underway at 5:30 p.m., with the varsity game to follow at 7:30 p.m.  Both games will be at DSU Fieldhouse.

Mayville State stays on the road as they visit Valley City State (N.D.) on Friday at 5:30 p.m.

(16) Mayville State (N.D.) 66, Dakota State (S.D.) 64 – FINAL

• Both teams struggled from the field in the first ten minutes of the game, shooting well below 30 percent.  There were two ties and two lead changes in the first period.
• Trailing 9-6, the Trojans held the Comets scoreless for three-plus minutes.  DSU sparked an 11-0 scoring tear to grab the biggest lead of the game at 17-9 after a pair of free-throws by Savannah Walsdorf with 1:13 on the clock in the first.
• Nicole Bunting drained a 3-pointer as MSU trimmed DSU lead to 17-12 with less than 40 seconds to go in the first quarter.
• Mayville State shot 5-of-18 from the field (27.8 percent) in the first period compared to Dakota State 3-of-15 field goals (20 percent).  The Trojans, however, made all ten free-throw attempts.
• The second quarter saw a see-saw battle between the Trojans the Comets with three ties and three lead changes.  MSU outscored DSU 19-13, holding a slim 31-30 halftime advantage.
• The Comets shot 30.6 percent in the first-half (11-of-36 field goals) compared to the Trojans 26.7 percent (8-of-30 field goals). 
• Tied at 33-33 in the third quarter, DSU used four different scorers (Morgan Koepsell, Jessi Giles, Sidney Fick and Lexi Robson) to fuel a 7-0 outburst to open a 40-33 lead with 5:39 on the clock.
• The Comets answered back and tied the game for the seventh time by the end of the third quarter.  Kylee Heurung hit a pair of free-throws as MSU knotted the game at 44-44 with less than 15 seconds left.
• DSU outscored MSU 14-13 in the third quarter, despite struggling from the field.  DSU shot 31.3 percent (5-of-16 field goals) compared to MSU 25 percent (5-of-20 field goals) in the first ten minutes of the second-half.
• The Comets kicked off the fourth quarter with an 8-2 run to earn a 52-46 lead after a basket by Taylor Shamp with 6:52 on the clock.
• Down 65-59, Walsdorf drained a 3-pointer as the Trojans trailed 65-62 with 20 seconds to go.  The Comets committed a turnover on the next possession in the backcourt, followed by a basket by DSU's Ashlyn Macdonald (assisted by Walsdorf) to cut the Comets' lead to 65-64 with 15 seconds to go.
• DSU committed a foul on MSU, sending Heurung to the free-throw for a double-bonus situation.  She made the first one to put Comets up 66-64 with 14 seconds remaining.  Heurung missed the second free-throw and was rebounded by DSU's Giles.
• DSU's Koepsell missed a game-tying field goal inside the paint as time expired, securing a victory for MSU. 
• Mayville State outscored Dakota State 22-20 in the fourth quarter.  DSU shot 37.1 percent from the field in the second-half (13-of-35 field goals) compared to MSU 36.1 percent (13-of-36 field goals).
• A total of seven ties and seven lead changes were recorded in the game.
• Koepsell had a game-high 20 points for Dakota State.  Walsdorf posted a double-double of 15 points and pulled down 12 rebounds.  She also had three assists and stole the ball three times.
• Giles added 11 points for DSU.  Koepsell and Giles each collected eight rebounds.  Macdonald dished out three assists.  Giles had three steals.
• Heurung led the Comets with a double-double of 16 points and earned a game-high 18 rebounds.  She was 8-of-10 from the free-throw line.  She also had four assists and four steals.  Bunting added 18 points.
• Andrea Skillingstad scored nine points off the bench for MSU.  She grabbed 14 rebounds and registered a game-high nine blocks.  Cyan Hale had nine points and dished out five assists.  Claire Blascziek had five assists.
• Mayville State shot 33.3 percent overall from the field (24-of-72 field goals) compared to Dakota State 32.3 percent (21-of-65 field goals).  The Comets were 8-of-22 3-pointers (36.4 percent), while the Trojans were 5-of-16 3-pointers (31.3 percent).
• DSU converted 17-of-21 free-throws (81 percent).  MSU was 10-of-16 from the free-throw line (62.5 percent).
• Both teams collected 49 rebounds in the game, scored 15 points off turnovers and 11 points in bench points.  The Trojans outscored the Comets 30-28 inside the paint.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director