January 22, 2020

Photos credits by Donald Weidler and Karen Giles

MADISON, S.D. – Trailing as many as 11 points in the final non-conference women's basketball contest Wednesday evening at DSU Fieldhouse, Dakota State (S.D.) stormed back to defeat in-state rival Mount Marty (S.D.) 74-63.  It was the first home victory over the Lancers since Dec. 30, 2004. 

The Trojans also notched its first win over the Great Plains Athletic Conference opponent since Oct. 27, 2017 (defeated College of Saint Mary, Neb.).  The victory also snapped DSU's eight-game losing skid in the series meeting with MMC (last win on Nov. 14, 2015 in Yankton, S.D.).

Dakota State improved their overall record to 7-12.  Mount Marty, which suffered its first non-conference setback this season, fell to 11-9 overall record.

The Trojans stay home at DSU Fieldhouse as they resume to North Star Athletic Association conference action.  DSU hosts Waldorf (Iowa) on Friday evening at 5:30 p.m., followed by another home contest on Saturday versus Viterbo (Wis.) at 3 p.m.

Dakota State (S.D.) 74, Mount Marty (S.D.) 63 _ FINAL

• Mount Marty opened the game with a 12-4 lead with four minutes and twenty-nine seconds on the clock in the first-period.
• Dakota State struggled from the field in the first ten minutes of the game, limiting to 16.7 percent (3-of-18 field goals) and allowing the Lancers to grab a 20-10 lead.  MMC was 7-of-15 from the field in the first quarter (46.7 percent).
• A field goal by Jamie Tebben gave the Lancers its biggest lead of the game at 24-13 with 8:10 remaining in the second quarter.
• The Trojans went on a 14-6 scoring run, highlighted by a 3-pointer each by Morgan Koepsell and Lindsey Vogl.  Jessi Giles made a basket inside the paint (assisted by Lexi Robson) as DSU trailed 30-27 with 3:02 on the clock in the second.
• Down 39-32, Koepsell drained her second 3-pointer of the game as the Trojans cut the Lancers' lead to 39-35 by halftime.
• DSU outscored MMC 25-19 in the second period.
• Mount Marty shot 45.2 percent from the field in the first-half (14-of-31 field goals) compared to Dakota State 34.4 percent (11-of-32 field goals).  The Lancers outscored the Trojans 12-0 in second-chance points.
• Leading 45-42, MMC used three different scorers (Molly Koisti, Callie Otkin and Shelby Fasching) to fuel a 7-0 run to regain their double-digit lead at 52-42 with 5:26 to go in the third period.
• Trailing 55-45, the Trojans went 3-of-4 from the 3-point line to spark their 11-0 outburst for the first lead of the game.  Riley Peters drained a 3-pointer to give DSU a 56-55 lead with 1:03 left in the third.
• Lexi Hochstein hit a pair of free-throws as the Lancers regained their lead to 57-56 by the end of the third quarter. 
• The Trojans outscored the Lancers 21-18 in the first ten minutes of the second-half, thanks to their blazing 61.5 percent shooting from the field (8-of-13) and 4-of-8 from the 3-point arc.  MMC was held to 36.8 percent, making seven field goals in 19 tries.
• Koisti mad a basket to extend the Lancers' lead to 59-56 with 9:04 left in the game. 
• Dakota State held Mount Marty scoreless for nearly a span of eight minutes, fueling a monstrous 11-0 scoring run to finish the game strong.  A basket by Koepsell gave DSU a 67-59 lead with 1:38 left in the game.
• During the 11-0 DSU scoring run, Mount Marty missed 11 shots and committed five turnovers (including three straight possessions with a turnover).
• The Lancers ended their scoring drought after a free-throw by Hannah Williams with 1:27 left (DSDU led 67-60).
• Dakota State secured the game by making 7-of-8 free-throws in the final 1:15 of the game.  The Trojans outscored the Lancers 18-6 in the final ten minutes of the game.
• DSU shot 46.2 percent from the field in the second-half (12-of-26 field goals) and held MMC to 25.7 percent (9-of-35 field goals, including 2-of-18 field goals in the fourth period).
• Four Trojan players hit double-digits in scoring.  Savannah Walsdorf posted her second consecutive double-double with 16 points and pulled down 11 rebounds.  She was 4-of-6 from the field and converted 7-of-10 free-throws.  Walsdorf stole the ball five times.
• Koepsell added 16 points and collected nine rebounds for Dakota State.  She had three blocked shots.  Sidney Fick scored 13 points and earned four rebounds.  Koepsell and Fick each went 5-of-10 from the field.
• Giles had 10 points for DSU.  She dished out three assists and recorded three steals.  Robson contributed four assists.
• Otkin paced the Lancers with 15 points on her 5-of-11 shooting from the 3-point arc.  She stole the ball five times.  Hannah Williams added 10 points.  Tebben scored eight points.
• Shelby Fasching grabbed eight rebounds and registered three blocked shots for MMC.  Peyton Stolle also had three blocks and collected five rebounds.  Tebben had seven rebounds.  Koisti dished out a game-high six assists.
• Dakota State shot 39.7 percent overall from the field (23-of-58 field goals) and held Mount Marty to 34.8 percent (23-of-66 field goals).  The Lancers hit 10 3-pointers in 31 attempts (32.3 percent), while the Trojans were 9-of-24 3-pointers (37.5 percent).
• DSU converted 19-of-24 free-throws (79.2 percent).  MMC was 7-of-10 free-throws (70 percent).
• The Trojans outscored the Lancers 26-20 inside the paint.  Mount Marty outscored Dakota State 23-19 in points off turnovers, 14-2 in second-chance points and 21-19 in bench points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director