November 5, 2020

SEWARD, Neb. – Dakota State (S.D.) faced another Great Plains Athletic Conference women's basketball powerhouse Thursday evening, visiting nationally-ranked Concordia (Neb.) to kick off the 21st annual Cattle Classic at Walz Arena.  The Trojans earned their second win over the NAIA's Top 25 nationally ranked teams in three days, holding off the Bulldogs 94-82 in a highly-scoring affair.

Dakota State raised their overall record to 2-1, earning their second consecutive victory.  Concordia, who was picked to finish second in the GPAC conference and ranked No. 11 in the NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, was playing their season opener.  The Bulldogs went 32-2 overall record last season (20-1 GPAC record).

DSU snapped CUNE's 27-game home winning streak at Walz Arena (last home defeat for Concordia was on Nov. 28, 2018 versus Morningside, Iowa).

The Trojans close out the Cattle Classic Friday afternoon, facing another nationally ranked team.  DSU plays No. 20-ranked Carroll (Mont.) with a 6 p.m. tip-off at Walz Arena.

Dakota State (S.D.) 94, (11) Concordia (Neb.) 82 – FINAL

• Dakota State opened the game with a 3-0 lead after a 3-pointer by Jessi Giles with 9 minutes, 45 seconds on the clock.  Both teams battle back and forth with five ties and two lead changes in the first period, with the lead no bigger than five points by the Trojans.
• Savannah Walsdorf drained a 3-pointer with 1:57 left in the first quarter, giving the Trojans a 17-12 lead.  Taylor Cockerill scored the final five points of the first period to knot the game at 17-17.
• Both teams struggled from the field in the first ten minutes of the game.  DSU shot 33.3 percent (5-of-15 field goals) compared to CUNE 30.8 percent (4-of-13 field goals).
• The Bulldogs extended their scoring run to 14-2 through the early second quarter, grabbing a 26-19 lead with less than eight minutes second after a pair of free-throws by Bailey Conrad.
• DSU cut their deficit down to one point at 29-28 after Giles completed a 3-point play, followed by Lexi Robson's two free-throws with 6:15 on the clock in the second.
• Both teams traded leads six times in the final 3:26 of the second quarter.  Giles hit a 3-pointer, assisted by Robson, to give Trojans a 42-39 halftime advantage over the Bulldogs.  Dakota State outscored Concordia 24-20 in the second period.
• DSU was 12-of-29 from the field (41.4 percent) in the first half and held CUNE to 37 percent (10-of-27 field goals).  Both teams made 13 free-throws.
• Dakota State and Concordia went through a see-saw battle to start the third quarter with four lead changes, one tie and a lead no bigger than four points by both teams.
• Leading 59-55, the Trojans went on a 5-0 scoring run to widen their lead to 64-55 with 1:10 left on the clock capped by Robson's 3-poitner. 
• DSU held a 66-59 lead by the end of the third quarter.  The Trojans outscored CUNE 24-20 in the third quarter.
• At 68-63, Dakota State went on a 7-0 outburst – sparked by Giles' five straight points followed by Elsie Aslesen's basket – to stretch their lead to 75-63 with 7:17 remaining.
• DSU never looked back as they completed a 21-10 scoring surge from the start of the fourth quarter, recording its biggest lead of the game at 87-69 with 2:25 left after a 3-point play by Aslesen.
• The Trojans outscored the Bulldogs 28-23 in the final quarter to secure the victory.
• Dakota State shot a sizzling 54.8 percent from the field in the second half, making 17 baskets in 31 attempts.  Concordia was held to 31.1 percent from the field 14-of-45 field goals, including 3-of-22 3-pointers (13.6 percent).
• Giles poured in a season-high 30 points on her 10-of-18 field goals, 4-of-8 3-pointers and converted 6-of-7 free-throws for the Trojans.  Aslesen posted a double-double of 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.  She collected four blocks in the game.
• Robson tallied 12 points (6-of-6 free-throws) and tied her career-high eight assists for DSU.  She also had six rebounds and two steals.  Savannah Walsdorf scored 14 points off the bench on her 5-of-10 field goals.  She pulled down five rebounds, stole the ball three times and dished out two assists.
• Morgan Koepsell added 12 points and seven rebounds off the bench for Dakota State.  Courtney Menning had five points, five rebounds, and three steals.  Giles and Ashlyn Macdonald each recorded three assists.
• Cockerill paced the Bulldogs with game-highs 33 points and 14 rebounds.  She stole the ball four times.  Conrad added 10 points (8-of-8 free-throws), 9 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 assists.  Taysha Rushton had 11 points.  Taylor Farrell scored 10 points and stole the ball three times off the bench.
• Dakota State shot 48.3 percent overall from the field (29-of-60 field goals).  The Trojans drained 10 3-pointers in 22 attempts (45.5 percent).  Concordia was limited to 33.3 percent overall from the field (24-of-72 field goals).  The Bulldogs made nine 3-pointers in 40 tries (22.5 percent).
• DSU converted 26 free-throws in 35 attempts (74.3 percent) compared to CUNE 25-of-33 free-throws (75.8 percent).
• Concordia outrebounded Dakota State 49-41.  The Trojans outscored the Bulldogs 26-23 in points off turnovers, 32-26 inside the paint and 30-18 in bench points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director