January 23, 2021

La CROSSE, Wis. – The Dakota State (S.D.) University Trojan women's basketball team extended their winning streak to 10 games after defeating Viterbo (Wis.) 73-66 in the North Star Athletic Association action Saturday afternoon at R.W. Beggs Gymnasium.  The Trojans led for most of the game, while the V-Hawks held their lead for nearly three minutes in the opening quarter.

Dakota State, ranked No. 24 in the latest NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, raised their overall record to 14-3.  The Trojans remained undefeated in North Star conference play with a 6-0 record, their first time in school history that DSU started NSAA conference with 6-0 record.  Dakota State also matched its longest winning streak of 10 games from last year, tying for the third best winning streak in the school record (2019-20 and 1981-82 squads).

Viterbo fell to 4-5 overall record and 3-4 NSAA conference record.  Both teams will meet Friday at DSU Fieldhouse for the second NSAA meeting at 5:30 p.m.

Dakota State stays on the road Tuesday evening, visiting Presentation (S.D.) in the make-up North Star contest from Jan. 16.  Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at Strode Center in Aberdeen, S.D.

(24) Dakota State (S.D.) 73, Viterbo (Wis.) 66 – FINAL

• The Trojans kicked off the game with a 6-0 lead in the first one minutes and ten seconds, thanks to back-to-back baskets by Jessi Giles and a pair of free-throws by Lexi Robson.
• Madison Lindauer drained back-to-back 3-pointers to spark the V-Hawks' 9-0 scoring run.  Kacie Gross scored the next three points to give VU a 9-6 lead with 5:46 left in the first period.
• Morgan Huber scored the next five points to fuel DSU's 8-0 scoring outburst to regain their lead.  The scoring run was capped by Elsie Aslesen's field goal with 3:48 left for DSU's 14-9 lead.
• Dakota State led 18-15 after the first quarter.  The Trojans shot 7-of-17 from the field (41.2 percent) compared to the V-Hawks' 5-of-16 field goals (31.3 percent).
• Leading 24-21 in the second quarter, DSU scored eight straight points to post its largest lead of the game.  Giles drained back-to-back 3-pointers, followed by a basket by Shaylee DeBeer to give Trojans a 32-21 lead with 4:44 on the clock.
• DSU's Courtney Menning hit a basket for another largest lead of the game at 34-23 with 4:07 to go before intermission.
• Viterbo closed the second period with a 12-5 run to cut Dakota State's lead to 39-35.  DSU outscored VU 21-20 in the second quarter.
• The Trojans were 15-of-32 from the field in the first half (46.9 percent), while holding the V-Hawks to 38.7 percent (12-of-31 field goals).
• Dakota State's defense held the V-Hawks to three points for the first five-and-half minutes in the third quarter, widening their lead to 49-38 after a basket by Morgan Koepsell with 5:55 on the clock.
• VU ended their scoring drought with a field goal by Ellie Hoesley with 4:07 on the clock, fueling a 7-0 run to trim DSU's lead to 49-45 with 2:45 to go in the third.
• Holding a 51-48 lead, the Trojans scored six points in the final minute of the third quarter to extend their lead.  Koepsell scored the first four points, followed by Aslesen's basket when the third period expired as DSU's lead ballooned to 57-48.
• The Trojans outscored the V-Hawks 18-13 in the third quarter.
• Dakota State posted its biggest lead of the game for the fourth time in the early fourth quarter.  A basket inside the paint by Giles give the Trojans a 59-48 lead with 9:05 remaining.
• Viterbo stormed back to cut DSU's lead down by two points.  Trailing 61-53, the V-Hawks went on a 10-4 run to trim the Trojans' lead to 65-63 after a basket by Amber Schlosser with less than four minutes to go.
• The Trojans stretched their lead to 69-63 after Cheylee Nagel and Koepsell scored a basket. 
• VU could get no closer than five points twice (69-64 with less than 50 seconds left and 71-66 with less than 25 seconds remaining).  DSU secured the game after Giles nailed down a pair of free-throws.
• Dakota State shot a blazing 53.6 percent from the field (15-of-28 field goals) and held Viterbo to 33.3 percent (12-of-36 field goals) in the second half.
• Giles paced the Trojans with a game-high 18 points.  Aslesen added 15 points, grabbed five rebounds, and registered two blocks.  Koepsell posted a double-double of 10 points and pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds. 
• Robson tallied eight points and dished out four assists for DSU.  Nagel had seven points and stole the ball a season-high four times.  Menning contributed five assists.  Ashlyn Macdonald had five rebounds.
• Lindauer led the V-Hawks with 14 points.  Sophie Leinfelder scored 11 points and stole the ball three times off the bench.  Schlosser had 10 points and four rebounds.  Kaitlyn Kennedy had three assists.  Gross scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds.  Allie Wojtysiak had nine points and seven rebounds. 
• DSU shot 30-of-60 overall from the field (50 percent) compared to VU 24-of-67 field goals (35.8 percent).  The Trojans were 4-of-14 from the 3-point line, while the V-Hawks hit 10 3-pointers in 31 tries.
• Dakota State made 9-of-11 free-throws (81.8 percent).  Viterbo was 8-of-13 from the free-throw line (61.5 percent).
• The Trojans outrebounded the V-Hawks 38-28.  DSU outscored VU 36-16 in bench points and 27-22 in bench points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director