February 7, 2020

Photos credit by Karen Giles

ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Trojans of Dakota State (S.D.) stomped out Presentation (S.D.) Saints on Friday night at Strode Center, beating them for the second time within the past ten days. The Trojans stayed in the winning column after capturing their seventh straight win by the score of 95-69, boosting their North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) women's basketball conference record to 7-3 and moved into a two-way tie for second place in the conference standings with Valley City State (N.D.).

DSU raised their overall record to 13-12.  It was the first time since the 2006-07 season that the Trojans won seven consecutive games.  PC fell to 2-20 overall record and 1-9 NSAA conference record.

The last match-up between the Trojans and Saints ended very well for DSU, which they repeated on Friday.  Jessi Giles led the team in scoring with a career-high 39 total points.  Her 39 points is the second-most single-game points in the DSU women's basketball school record book.  She was 15-of-22 from the field (tied for second-most single-game field goals made), including 7-of-9 from the 3-point arc (tied for third-most single-game 3-point field goals made).

The Saints were led by Jada Campbell who totaled 26 points (12-of-21 field goals). 

The Trojans look to continue their winning streak on Saturday afternoon as they face No. 14-ranked Mayville State (N.D.) – winner of 11 straight games – in Mayville, N.D.  The two red-hot teams in the North Star conference will battle out at the Lewy Lee Fieldhouse, tipping off at 3 p.m.

Dakota State (S.D.) 95, Presentation (S.D.) 69 - FINAL

• The Trojans raced to a 6-0 opening lead, capped by back-to-back baskets by Koepsell with less than eight minutes in the first quarter.  The game was knotted at 20-20 after the first period.  The Trojans outscored the Saints 33-22 in the second period to earn a 53-42 halftime lead.
• The Trojans were shooting a sizzling 67.6 percent (23-of-34 field goals) in the first half and were on a roll leading up to it.  Giles had 17 points, followed by Walsdorf and Macdonald each with nine points. Presentation was shooting 45.7 percent (16-of-35 field goals), paced by Campbell who had 20 points and four rebounds.
• The Trojans struggled in the third quarter and allowed the Saints to trim DSU's lead to 69-6.  Dakota State outscored Presentation 26-8 in the final quarter to secure the victory.
• Dakota State started very strong with the help of Giles being on fire from start to finish. She scored her first points nearly three minutes into the first quarter and aided the Trojans in earning their blazing 62.3 field goal percentage for the game (38-of-61 field goals).
• Presentation was 27-of-68 from the field in the game (39.7 percent).
• Morgan Koepsell recorded a total of three blocks for the Trojans, boosting the Dakota State's defense throughout the game.  She also grabbed eight rebounds.  Savannah Walsdorf and Ashlyn Macdonald each had 11 points.  Sidney Fick tallied eight points.
• Giles and Koepsell were the high rebounders for DSU with eight rebounds.  Campbell led PC with 14 rebounds, recording a double-double.
• Macdonald led the Trojans in assists with four.  The Saints were led by Aimee Campbell with five assists.
• Walsdorf had four steals for the Trojans, while Karly Sanchez had three steals for the Saints. Sanchez was the only other PC player in double digit with 14 points off the bench.

Madelyn Shockey, DSU Sports Writer