December 30, 2020

Photos credit by Karen Giles

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) kicked off their three-game home stand Wednesday evening at DSU Fieldhouse, hosting Briar Cliff (Iowa) in the non-conference women's basketball contest.  The Trojans pulled away late for an 82-76 victory over the Chargers, extending their season-high winning streak to six games.

Dakota State raised their overall record to 10-3, recording their eighth win in the last nine games.  The Trojans closed the month of December with a 4-0 undefeated record.  Briar Cliff, a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC), fell to 9-4 overall record.  Both teams received votes' recognition in the first NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll.

DSU's victory also halted their 13-game losing skid in the series meeting with Briar Cliff, with the last victory coming on Nov. 20, 2008.  It was also the first win for Trojans at DSU Fieldhouse over BCU since Nov. 11, 2006.  Dakota State went 4-1 record against members of the GPAC this season.

The Trojans ring in the new season as they resume their North Star Athletic Association play next weekend.  DSU hosts Valley City State (N.D.) on Friday, Jan. 8 at 5:30 p.m., followed by another contest versus Dickinson State (N.D.) on Saturday, Jan. 9 at 3 p.m.  Both games will be at DSU Fieldhouse.

(RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 82, (RV) Briar Cliff (Iowa) 76 – FINAL

• The Trojans jumped to a 7-3 lead in the first two minutes of the game, thanks to their 3-of-3 field goal shooting from three different players (Lexi Robson, Ashlyn Macdonald and Elsie Aslesen). 
• Briar Cliff used a 7-4 run to overtake the lead at 12-11 after a basket by Mya Hendry with 6:40 on the clock in the first period.
• Leading 18-17, the Chargers outscored the Trojans 5-1 to stretch their lead to 23-18 when Kennedy Benne hit a 3-pointer with 1:15 to go in the first.
• Konnor Sudmann made a basket when the first quarter expired, giving BCU a 25-20 lead over DSU. 
• The Trojans were 8-of-12 from the field in the first ten minutes of the game (66.7 percent) compared to the Chargers 10-of-17 field goals (58.8 percent).
• Paityn Hagberg drained a 3-pointer to give Briar Cliff its largest lead of the game at 32-24 with 6:24 to go in the second period.
• Savannah Walsdorf scored five straight points as the Trojans cut the Chargers' lead to 32-30 with 5:47 remaining before intermission.
• DSU held a slim 41-40 halftime advantage, outscoring BCU 21-15 in the second quarter.
• The Trojans shot 50 percent from the field in the first half (16-of-32 field goals), while the Chargers were 45.2 percent (14-of-31 field goals).  DSU outscored BCU 15-2 in points off turnovers in the first twenty minutes of the game.
• Jessi Giles drained a 3-pointer, followed by a basket by Macdonald as the Trojans kicked off the third quarter by extending their lead to 46-40 with 8:47 on the clock.
• With DSU leading 57-52, the Chargers used a 9-2 outburst to regain their lead to 61-59 capped by Sudmann's steal and a lay-up with 1:13 left in the third.
• The Trojans took the lead back at 63-60 near the end of the third period when Cheylee Nagel drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Walsdorf).
• DSU outscored BCU 23-21 in the third quarter.  The Trojans were 9-of-14 from the field (64.3 percent) compared to the Chargers 8-of-14 field goals (57.1 percent).
• Dakota State maintained their lead for the majority of the fourth quarter, holding their lead between one- and five-points. 
• A 3-pointer by BCU's Payton Slaughter knotted the game for the sixth time at 74-74 with 3:28 left.
• Dakota State's defense held Briar Cliff to just two points in the final 2:56 of the game to secure the victory, closing the game with an 8-2 run.
• Morgan Koepsell made a basket inside the paint to give DSU an 80-76 lead with less than 35 seconds to go.  BCU missed a basket on the following possession and was rebounded by Aslesen with 12 seconds to go.
• Giles nailed down a pair of free throws with 9.3 seconds remaining, securing the victory for DSU.
• Dakota State shot 17-of-27 from the field in the second half (63 percent) and held Briar Cliff to 41.9 percent (13-of-31 field goals). 
• Koepsell poured in a career-high 28 points for Dakota State.  She was near perfect from the field by going 12-of-13.  She also pulled down nine rebounds.  Walsdorf scored 13 points off the bench.
• Giles added 12 points and grabbed four rebounds.  She stole the ball a career-high five times.  Robson tallied eight points and dished off a career-high nine assists.  Courtney Menning contributed five assists.  Aslesen had six points, five rebounds and two blocks. 
• Madelyn Deitchler led the Chargers with 26 points (9-of-14 field goals and 8-of-11 free-throws).  Hendry posted a double-double of 12 points and collected 14 rebounds.  She had two blocks.  Sudmann had 15 points and four assists.
• Slaughter registered 12 points and five assists for BCU.  Kennedy Benne had eight assists and four steals. 
• Dakota State shot a blazing 55.9 percent overall from the field (33-of-59 field goals).  Briar Cliff shot 43.5 percent from the field (27-of-62 field goals).  The Trojans were 7-of-19 3-pointers, while the Chargers were 6-of-21 3-pointers.
• Briar Cliff went to the free throw line 25 times, making 16 free-throws (64 percent).  Dakota State was 9-of-12 free-throws (75 percent).
• DSU held a slim rebounding edge, outrebounding BCU 34-33.  The Trojans had 24 assists compared to the Chargers 22 assists.  BCU stole the ball 14 times, while DSU had 10 steals.
• Dakota State outscored Briar Cliff 15-9 in points off turnovers, 48-30 inside the paint and 47-15 in bench points.  BCU outscored DSU 13-4 in second chance points.
• A total of 10 lead changes and six ties were recorded in the game.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director