November 3, 2020

Photos credits by Donald Weidler and Karen Giles

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) shot 49.1 percent overall from the field and used a balanced scoring attack to upset the NAIA's nationally-ranked No. 8 Dordt (Iowa) 79-60 in women's basketball action at DSU Fieldhouse.  Eleven Trojan players scored in the game Tuesday evening.

Dakota State, who was playing their home opener, improved to 1-1 overall record on the season.  Dating back to last season, the Trojans extended its home-court winning streak to eight games.  Dordt, who is the preseason favorite to win the Great Plains Athletic Conference regular season title this season, was playing their season opener (0-1 overall record). 

The Trojans snapped their five-game losing streak in the series meeting with the Defenders.  It was DSU's first win over DC since Nov. 3, 2015 (in Sioux Center, Iowa) and first home win over Dordt since Nov. 4, 2014. 

DSU is scheduled to play a pair of games in the Cattle Classic, hosted by Concordia (Neb.) at Walz Arena.  There is an adjustment to the schedule for this weekend.  The Trojans were originally scheduled to play Bellevue (Neb.) on Friday, but the Bruins had to drop out from the tournament.

The new schedule is set with the Trojans facing a pair of NAIA's Top 25 nationally ranked teams.  The Trojans take on No. 11 Concordia (Neb.) of the Great Plains Athletic Conference on Thursday evening at 7 p.m.  On Friday afternoon, DSU plays No. 20-ranked Carroll (Mont.) of the Frontier Conference.  Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.

Dakota State (S.D.) 79, (8) Dordt (Iowa) 60 – FINAL

• Dordt had the lead for the majority of the first quarter, leading as many as four points. Knotted at 11-11, Dakota State stormed with an 8-0 run in the final 1:31 to open a 19-11 lead.  Jessi Giles scored five points during the scoring run, while Lexi Robson added a 3-pointer before the first quarter expired.
• DSU was 50 percent from the field in the first quarter, converting 6-of-12 field goals (3-of-5 from the 3-point line).  DC was held to 23.5 percent shooting from the field (4-of-17 field goals).
• The Defenders kicked off the second period with a 7-2 run to cut DSU's lead to 21-18 after a basket by Mya Chmielewski with 7:05 on the clock.  It was the closest DC could get as the Trojans closed the second quarter strong.
• Dakota State then went on to score seven straight points on three straight baskets, capped by a 3-point play by Shaylee DeBeer for first double-digit lead of the game at 28-18 with 5:18 on the clock.
• The Trojans held the Defenders to just five points in the final 4:58 of the first half, widening their lead to 37-23 by halftime.  DSU shot a sizzling 50 percent from the field (13-of-26 field goals).  DC was held to 25.8 percent from the field (8-of-31 field goals).
• DSU maintained control of their lead between nine- and 15-points throughout the third quarter.  DC outscored the Trojans 20-19 in the third period, as DSU held on to a 56-43 lead. 
• Dakota State shot a blazing 7-of-8 field goals to grab the biggest lead of the game at 77-48 after a 3-pointer by Jessi Giles with 4:45 remaining.  The Trojans ignited a monstrous 21-6 scoring run to start the fourth period and never looked back for the first win of the 2020-21 season.
• Dakota State was 48.3 percent from the field (14-of-29 field goals) in the second half.  Dordt was 36.4 percent from the field (16-of-44 field goals) in the final twenty minutes.
• Giles paced the Trojans with 16 points.  She converted all six free-throw attempts.  She also had three assists and two steals.  Elsie Aslesen and DeBeer each tallied 12 points.  Aslesen pulled down six rebounds, dished out three assists and recorded two blocked shots.  DeBeer was 4-of-4 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line.
• Lexi Robson scored nine points for DSU.  Courtney Menning and Morgan Koepsell each added eight points.  Menning contributed six rebounds four assists.  Koepsell grabbed seven rebounds, produced three assists and registered two blocked shots.
• Ashtyn Veerbeek scored 14 points (6-of-12 field goals) and grabbed nine rebounds for Dordt.  Karly Gustafson had 11 points and six rebounds off the bench.  Erika Feenstra had 10 points, four rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals. 
• Dakota State was 27-of-55 from the field, while holding Dordt to 32 percent overall from the field (24-of-75 field goals).  The Trojans were 7-of-17 from the 3-point arc (41.2 percent) compared to the Defenders 4-of-24 3-pointers (16.7 percent).
• DSU was near perfect from the free-throw line, making 18-of-19 free-throws (94.7 percent).  DC was 8-of-13 free-throws (61.5 percent).
• Dordt outrebounded Dakota State 49-34, including 23-3 on the offensive boards.  The Defenders outscored the Trojans 14-5 in second-chance points.  Both teams scored eight fast-break points and 13 points off turnovers.
• DSU outscored DC 36-34 inside the paint and 29-25 in bench points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director

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