December 18, 2020

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Dakota State (S.D.) trailed 15-5 to kick off the women's basketball non-conference women's basketball contest with NCAA Division III Northwestern (Minn.) at Ericksen Center Friday evening.  The Trojans used a monstrous first period closing run and never trailed for the rest of the game, earning an 80-66 road victory over the Eagles.

Dakota State, who received votes' recognition in the first edition of the NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll (sitting at No. 26), won their fifth straight game to lift their overall record to 9-3.  The Trojans also won for the seventh time in the last eight games.

DSU matched its best 12-game start since the 2004-05 season.

Northwestern, a member of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, fell to 4-2 overall record.  It was the fifth all-time meeting between DSU and NW, with the Trojans owning a 3-2 record (last meeting was during the 2003-04 season).

Dakota State takes a break for Christmas and returns to action on Tuesday, Dec. 29.  The Trojans kick off their three-game home stand versus Briar Cliff (Iowa).  Tip-off from the DSU Fieldhouse is set for 6 p.m.

(RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 80, Northwestern (Minn.) 66 – FINAL

• Northwestern held Dakota State scoreless for the first three-and-half minutes of the game, opening with a 5-0 lead.
• Jessi Giles hit a free-throw to end DSU's scoring drought with 6:29 on the clock in the first (Trojans trailed 5-1).  DSU made their first field goal with 5:35 on the clock after Morgan Koepsell's basket (NW led 8-3).
• The Eagles widen their lead to 15-5 after a basket by Grace Langmade with less than four minutes to go in the first quarter.
• Dakota State used a monstrous 17-2 outburst in the final 2:36 of the first quarter – including 15 straight points – to overtake the lead from Northwestern.  The Trojans forced the Eagles to five turnovers during the scoring run. 
• Ashlyn Macdonald hit a jump shot to end the first quarter to give Trojans a 22-17 lead. 
• NW shot 53.8 percent from the field in the first ten minutes of the game (7-of-13 field goals).  DSU was 52.9 percent from the field (9-of-17 field goals).
• Northwestern could get no closer than three points on two different occasions in the second quarter (22-19 with 9:37 on the clock and 31-28 with 4:28 left in the second).
• Leading 33-28, the Trojans used another strong closing run.  DSU outscored NW 9-2 in the final 2:06 to balloon their lead to 42-30, thanks to eight points from Lexi Robson.
• DSU outscored NW 20-13 in the second period.  The Trojans' defense held the Eagles to 3-of-14 field goals in the second quarter.  DSU was 7-of-18 field goals, including 5-of-11 from the 3-point line.
• The Trojans shot 45.7 percent in the first half (16-of-35 field goals) and held the Eagles to 37 percent (10-of-27 field goals). 
• After NW cut DSU's lead by 10 points, the Trojans went on a 7-0 scoring tear to record the biggest lead of the game.  Dakota State went 3-of-3 from the field during the run (Elsie Aslesen's basket followed by a 3-pointer and a 2-point field goal by Giles).
• DSU led 49-32 after a basket by Giles with 8:20 to go in the third quarter.  The Trojans also registered its biggest lead of the game at 51-34 after a field goal by Courtney Menning with 7:49 on the clock.
• Dakota State led 58-47 after three quarters. 
• The Trojans maintained their double-digit lead in the fourth quarter.  The Eagles could get no closer than 10 points at 74-64 with 1:50 remaining after Courtney Schmidt's 3-pointer.
• DSU outscored NW 22-19 in the final quarter.
• The Trojans shot a sizzling 53.3 percent from the field in the second half (16-of-30 field goals) compared to the Eagles 44.4 percent (12-of-27 field goals).
• Four DSU players scored in double-digits, paced by Giles with 29 points.  She was 11-of-16 from the field, including 5-of-8 from the 3-point line.  She also stole the ball a season-high four times and dished out two assists.
• Aslesen added 15 points on her 6-of-8 field goals for Dakota State.  She pulled down seven rebounds and registered three blocks.  Koepsell scored 15 points off the bench (6-of-9 field goals, including 3-of-5 3-pointers).  She had four rebounds and two blocks.
• Robson tallied 13 points, five assists and four steals for the Trojans.  Menning had six rebounds, five assists and two steals.  Shaylee DeBeer contributed four assists and two steals.  Cheylee Nagel stole the ball three times. 
• Hailey Paup led the Eagles with 19 points.  She had six rebounds.  Brooklyn DeKam added 15 points, six rebounds and four assists.  Megan Roberts posted a double-double of 13 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.  Courtney Schmidt had 10 points.  Jordan Sauve dished out five assists.
• Dakota State shot 49.2 percent overall from the field (32-of-65 field goals).  Northwestern was held to 40.7 percent (22-of-54 field goals).  The Trojans drained 12 3-pointers in 30 tries compared to the Eagles 6-of-15 3-pointers.
• NW was 16-of-19 from the free-throw line (84.2 percent).  DSU was 4-of-9 free-throws (44.4 percent).
• The Eagles outrebounded the Trojans 39-30 in the game.  Dakota State stole the ball 20 times compared to Northwestern five steals.  The Trojans forced the Eagles to 25 turnovers.
• Dakota State outscored Northwestern 14-5 in fast break points, 36-32 inside the paint and 19-6 in bench points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director