February 15, 2020

Photos credit by Karen Giles

MADISON, S.D. – The Dakota State University (S.D.) women's basketball team stretched their historic winning streak to 10 games – first time since the 1983-84 season when the Trojans won 10 consecutive games – after holding off Valley City State University (N.D.) Vikings on Saturday afternoon at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans won by the score of 80-69, earning their first win over the Vikings since Feb. 15, 2014 and halting their 12-game losing skid in the series meeting.

Dakota State raised their overall record to 16-12 and 10-3 record in league contests.  The Trojans had established a winning season for the first time since the 2007-08 season, as well as the most overall and conference wins (21-11 overall record and 11-3 in the former Dakota Athletic Conference in 2007-08). 

DSU's ten victories in the North Star conference games are the most since joining the league in 2013-14 season.  The Trojans are currently in second place, trailing by one-half game behind No. 14-ranked Mayville State (N.D.) who holds a 10-2 record and will face Bellevue (Neb.) on the road on Monday.

Valley City State fell to 11-13 overall record and 8-5 record in North Star contests.  The Vikings are currently fourth in the conference standings.  VCSU hosts Dickinson State (N.D.) in their final regular-season game on Friday evening at W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse in Valley City, N.D.

The Trojans celebrated their senior Lindsey Vogl Saturday as she racked up 12 points.  Vogl will play one more home game at DSU Fieldhouse, securing a home court contest in the North Star Athletic Association conference tournament's postseason quarterfinal round on Wednesday, Feb. 26.

Dakota State is 10-5 record at home, which is the most home victories since the 2006-07 season (13 home victories).  The Trojans look to finish the second-half portion of the North Star conference schedule undefeated as they visit Bellevue (Neb.) on Friday evening.  Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Gordon Lozier Center in Bellevue, Neb.

Dakota State (S.D.) 80, Valley City State (N.D.) 69 – FINAL

• Dakota State and Valley City State went through three ties and one lead change in the first ten minutes of the game.  The Trojans led as many as five points, including a 5-0 scoring run to break an 8-8 tie into a 13-8 lead.  Vogl drained a three-pointer while Savannah Walsdorf added a pair of free-throws to give the Trojans a five-point lead with 6:37 on the clock in the first.
• The Trojans led 20-17 after the first quarter.  Both teams struggled from the field with the Trojans shooting 33.3 percent (7-of-21 field goals), while the Vikings shot 31.6 percent (6-of-19 field goals).
• Ashlyn Macdonald opened the second quarter to extend DSU's lead to 23-17 with 9:41 on the clock.
• VCSU answered with a 9-2 outburst to regain their lead to 26-25 with 7:07 left before halftime, capped by Allie Critchley's steal and a basket.
• Dakota State closed the second period with a 13-7 run to grab a 38-33 halftime lead.  Both teams shot below 40 percent from the field in the first-half, with VCSU shooting 39.4 percent (13-of-33 field goals) and DSU 37.8 percent (14-of-37 field goals).
• Dakota State used a 14-6 scoring surge in the first three-plus minutes of the third period, highlighted by Walsdorf's 3-pointer to record the biggest lead of the game at 52-39.
• The Trojans outscored the Vikings 26-21 in the third quarter, widening their lead to 64-54. 
• Valley City State started the fourth quarter with a 4-1 run, with four straight points by Macey Kvilvang to trim Dakota State's lead to 67-58 with 8:43 remaining.  VCSU could get any closer as DSU answered with a 5-0 run, capped by Lexi Robson's 3-pointer to regain their double-digit lead at 70-58 with 6:50 left.
• DSU shot 45.2 percent from the field in the second half (14-of-31 field goals) compared to VCSU 34.5 percent (10-of-29 field goals).
• Walsdorf posted her fourth double-double of the season with 14 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for DSU.  She also had five steals.  Giles added 14 points.  Vogl sunk four 3-pointers in the game, racking up a total of 160 3-pointers during her stellar career at DSU.  Her 160 3-point field goals made is the fifth all-time in Trojan women's basketball school record book.
• Olivia Breske scored 12 points and collected six rebounds off the bench for the Trojans.  Ashlyn Macdonald had seven points, five assists, rebounds and three steals.
• Valley City State was led by Mackenzie Huber with 17 points and nine rebounds.  She was followed by Adriana Torres, who had 13 points and pulled down eight rebounds.  Critchley had eight rebounds.
• Dakota State achieved 14 steals compared to VCSU nine steals.  The Trojans registered seven blocks (Breske with three blocks), while the Vikings had six blocks (Kvilvang with four blocks).
• Both Dakota State and Valley City State ended with 41 rebounds in the game.
• The Trojans were 41.2 percent overall from the field (28-of-68) compared to the Vikings 37.1 percent (23-of-62).  DSU was 9-for-27 (33.3 percent) from the 3-point line).  VCSU was 4-for-14 3-pointers (28.6 percent).

Madelyn Shockey, DSU Sports Writer