November 13, 2021

La CROSSE, Wis. – The No. 13 ranked Dakota State (S.D.) women's basketball team never trailed in the 40 minutes game Saturday afternoon, cruising past Florida National 105-55 on the second day of the Viterbo (Wis.) Classic at R.W. Beggs Gymnasium.  It was the season-high points for the Trojans, previously scoring 102 points on Nov. 5 in Seward, Neb.

Dakota State improved their overall record to 5-3.  Florida National fell to 1-5 overall record.

The Trojans conclude their nine-game stretch away from DSU Fieldhouse next weekend as they play in the two-day Dakota Clash.  The second annual tournament starts on Friday with Dakota State taking on Valley City State (N.D.) in a non-conference clash.  Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse in Mayville, N.D.

(13) Dakota State (S.D.) 105, Florida National 55 – FINAL

• Dakota State grabbed its first lead of the game at 2-0 after a basket by Courtney Menning with nine minutes, fifty-one seconds on the clock.
• Florida National recorded its only tie of the game at 2-2 when Adria Stewart answered with a lay-up with 9:38 on the clock.
• The Trojans held the Conquistadors scoreless for three-plus minutes, sparking a 13-0 outburst capped by Lexi Robson's lay-up with 6:15 remaining.
• DSU shot a sizzling 68.4 percent from the field (13-of-19 field goals) to grab a 32-15 lead after the first period.  FNU was held to 5-of-14 field goals (35.7 percent).
• The Trojans maintained their double-digit lead in the second quarter, outscoring Conquistadors 23-21 to widen their lead to 55-36 by halftime.
• Dakota State poured in 32 points in the third period and held Florida National to seven points, ballooning their lead to 87-43.
• DSU recorded its biggest lead of the game at 93-43 with 6:52 remaining after a pair of free-throws by Savannah Walsdorf.
• The Trojans outscored the Conquistadors 50-19 in the final twenty minutes of the game to secure the victory.
• Four DSU players scored in double-digits, led by Jessi Giles with 20 points.  She was 6-of-8 from the field, including 3-of-5 from the 3-point arc, and converted 5-of-8 from the free-throw line. 
• Giles moved to No. 2 DSU women's basketball all-time in scoring with 1,514 points after the game, surpassing Sheila Haack's 1,497 career points from 1995 through 2000.
• Walsdorf scored 16 points, pulled down eight rebounds, and stole the ball four times for DSU.  Shaylee DeBeer tallied 14 points and six rebounds off the bench.
• Morgan Huber scored a season-high 13 points for the Trojans.  Menning had 11 points, four assists, and two steals.
• Robson dished out a career-high 11 assists for the Trojans (tied for 10th most single-game assists in the record book).  She also had eight points, seven rebounds, and four steals.  Lilli Mackley scored eight points.  Elsie Aslesen grabbed five rebounds. 
• Deandra Akins led the Conquistadors with 12 points off the bench.  Aaliyah Abdala added 10 points.  Delories Charlton earned six rebounds.  Brianna Richarson had three assists.
• Dakota State shot 56.3 percent overall from the field, making 36 baskets in 64 attempts.  Florida National was limited to 32.2 percent from the field (19-of-59 field goals).
• The Trojans drained 12 3-pointers in 29 tries (41.4 percent) compared to the Conquistadors 7-of-25 3-pointers (28 percent).
• DSU was 21-of-29 from the free-throw line (72.4 percent), while FNU was 10-of-14 free-throws (71.4 percent).
• Dakota State outrebounded Florida National 46-23.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director