January 29, 2021

Photos credits by Karen Giles and Donald Weidler

MADISON, S.D. – All 11 Dakota State (S.D.) players scored in the game, leading a balanced scoring attack to an 88-58 North Star Athletic Association women's basketball victory over Viterbo (Wis.) Friday evening at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans shot a blazing 53.6 percent from the field to earn their school record 12th consecutive win.

Dakota State, ranked No. 21 in the latest NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, raised their overall record to 16-3 and remained perfect in the North Star contests with an 8-0 record.  Viterbo fell to 5-6 overall record and 4-5 NSAA conference record.  Both teams met for the second time in six days (DSU defeated at VU 73-66 on Jan. 23).

DSU had won the last four meetings with VU, as well as Trojans' 11th win in the last 13 meetings with the V-Hawks.

The Trojans broke previous school record of 11 consecutive wins set by the 1980-81 and 1983-84 squads, who dominated the former South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference (SDIC).

Dakota State heads on the road on Tuesday for the North Star make-up contest with Mayville State (N.D.).  The game is set for 5:30 p.m. at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse in Mayville, N.D. 

(21) Dakota State (S.D.) 88, Viterbo (Wis.) 58 – FINAL

• Both teams struggled offensively in the first two minutes of the game, going scoreless.
• Viterbo grabbed the first lead of the game at 2-0 with a basket by Allie Wojtysiak with 7:57 left on the clock in the first quarter.
• VU's lead was short-lived as DSU went on a 5-0 run.  Elsie Aslesen answered with a basket on the ensuing possession to knot the game at 2-2 with 7:45 on the clock.  Jessi Giles then drained a 3-pointer to give Trojans a 5-2 lead with 6:50 to go in the first.
• Leading 14-8, Lex Evans nailed down a pair of free-throws followed by a pair of 3-pointers by Giles and Lexi Robson to spark DSU's 8-0 run.  The Trojans lead grew to 22-8 with 2:15 left in the first.
• Savannah Walsdorf made a lay-up to close the first quarter, giving Trojans a 26-12 lead.  DSU shot 10-of-17 from the field (58.8 percent) in the first ten minutes of the game and held VU to 35.7 percent (5-of-14 field goals).
• Dakota State led as many as 19 points in the second period.  Leading 40-24, the Trojans went 6-of-6 from the free-throw line (four free-throws by Giles and a pair of free-throws by Walsdorf) in the final 1:41, ballooning their lead to 46-24 by halftime. 
• DSU outscored VU 20-12 in the second quarter.  The Trojans shot a sizzling 53.6 percent from the field (15-of-28 field goals), while holding the V-Hawks to 25.9 percent (7-of-27 field goals).
• Dakota State maintained their lead between 19- and 26-points in the third quarter.  With DSU leading 61-35, the V-Hawks closed the third quarter with four straight points by Madison Lindauer to cut Trojans' lead to 61-39.
• Both teams scored 15 points and shot 5-of-13 from the field (38.5 percent) in the first ten minutes of the second half. 
• Miakken Vincent made a lay-up with 13 seconds remaining in the game, recording the biggest lead of the game at 88-56.
• DSU outscored VU 27-19 in the fourth quarter.  The Trojans shot 15-of-28 from the field (53.8 percent) in the second half, while the V-Hawks were 12-of-26 from the field (46.2 percent).
• Giles poured in a game-high 20 points for Dakota State.  She was 6-of-10 from the field, 3-of-6 from the 3-point arc and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line.  She also grabbed a season-high six rebounds.  Aslesen was perfect 6-of-6 from the field and made both free-throws for 14 points.  She also had five rebounds and registered three blocks.
• Robson tallied 11 points for the Trojans.  She also had three assists.  Lex Evans scored nine points off the bench, while Shaylee DeBeer added eight points. 
• Courtney Menning contributed six assists and stole the ball five times for DSU.  Walsdorf had seven points, seven rebounds and four assists.  Ashlyn Macdonald pulled down a game-high eight rebounds and recorded three steals.
• Lindauer led the V-Hawks with 12 points.  She had four rebounds.  Kacie Gross, Sophie Leinfelder and Ellie Hoesley each added seven points.  Wojtysiak had five points, five rebounds and two blocks.
• Dakota State shot 30-of-56 from the field compared to Viterbo 19-of-53 field goals (35.8 percent).  The Trojans were 7-of-18 from the 3-point line, while the V-Hawks were 5-of-18 3-pointers. 
• DSU made 21 free-throws in 29 attempts (72.4 percent).  VU converted 15-of-24 free-throws (62.5 percent).
• Dakota State outrebounded Viterbo 44-25 in the game.  The Trojans outscored the V-Hawks 21-6 in fast-break points, 33-15 in points off turnovers, 46-24 inside the paint, 12-9 in second-chance points and 38-32 in bench points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director