November 20, 2021

Photos credit by Karen Giles

MADISON, S.D. – Nationally-ranked Dakota State (S.D.) erased their 11-point deficit and rallied back to defeat host-team Mayville State (N.D.) 82-76 in the second annual Dakota Clash women's basketball action at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse Saturday afternoon.  There was a total of 10 ties and 16 lead changes were registered in the game.

Dakota State remained undefeated all-time in the Dakota Clash tournament, lifting their all-time record to 4-0 (went 2-0 record last year's Dakota Clash in Madison).  The Trojans won their third straight game to raise their overall record to 7-3.  Mayville State's five-game winning streak came to end, falling to 5-2 overall record.

DSU returns home for the first time since Oct. 26 on Tuesday, hosting Grand View (Iowa) in a non-conference game.  The Trojans kick off their four-game home stand with a 6 p.m. tip-off at DSU Fieldhouse.

(19) Dakota State (S.D.) 82, Mayville State (N.D.) 76 – FINAL

• Dakota State kicked off the game with a 5-0 lead, capped by a 3-pointer by Elsie Aslesen with eight minutes, forty-seven seconds on the clock in the first period.
• Mayville State answered with 10 straight points by three different scorers – Danneka Voegeli, Mackenzie Hughes, and Jordan Zrust.  The Comets led 10-5 with 5:40 on the clock in the first quarter.
• Sydney Magsam drained a 3-pointer to give MSU its biggest lead of the game at 22-11 with less than a minute to go in the first.
• The Comets led 22-13 by the end of the first period, thanks to their 58.8 percent field goal shooting (10-of-17 field goals).  The Trojans were held to 28.6 percent field goal shooting (4-of-14 field goals) in the first ten minutes of the game.
• Trailing 26-16, Dakota State went on an 8-0 scoring run to cut MSU's lead to 26-24 after a basket by Aslesen with 5:51 to go in the second quarter.
• Mayville State stretched its lead to eight points by the end of the second quarter, leading 41-33.
• DSU outscored MSU 20-19 in the second period.
• The Comets kicked off the second half with another biggest lead of the game.  Kayla Rocholl hit a 3-pointer to balloon MSU's lead to 44-33 with 9:45 on the clock in the third.
• Dakota State roared back by outscoring Mayville State 12-0 to regain their lead at 45-44, capped by a lay-up by Walsdorf with 6:06 on the clock.
• The Trojans and the Comets tied or traded leads for the rest of the third quarter.  Hughes hit a 3-pointer to give MSU a 57-54 lead, while Lexi Robson make a lay-up as time expired as DSU trailed 57-56.
• Dakota State racked up 23 points in the first ten minutes of the second half compared to Mayville State 16 points.
• DSU and MSU battled back and forth in the fourth quarter with the lead no greater than three points, until the Trojans pulled away late.
• Jessi Giles hit a lay-up as the Trojans extended their lead to 75-71 with 1:43 left in the game.
• Voegeli followed up with a lay-up on the next possession as MSU trimmed DSU's lead to 75-73 with 1:25 to go.
• Down 76-73, Hughes drained a 3-pointer as the Comets knotted the game for the 10th time at 76-76 with less than 40 seconds remaining.
• Dakota State answered with a layup by Walsdorf for a 78-76 lead with less than 15 seconds left.
• Robson stole the ball on the next possession, securing the possession with 11 seconds to go.  After a turnover by DSU, the Comets committed another turnover as Giles stole the ball. 
• Dakota State secured the victory as Walsdorf and Giles hit a pair of free-throws for a six-point victory.
• The Trojans outscored the Comets 26-19 in the final ten minutes of the game.
• Giles scored a game-high 24 points on her 8-of-18 field goals and 8-of-11 free-throws for Dakota State.  She stole the game six times and grabbed five rebounds.  Aslesen added 15 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks.  She was of 3-of-6 from the 3-point line and made all four free-throw attempts.
• Walsdorf tallied 14 points, five rebounds, and two steals for DSU.  Menning added 11 points.  Miakken Vincent pulled down five rebounds.  Robson had seven points, three assists, and three steals.
• Zrust paced the Comets with 22 points on her 8-of-14 field goals and 6-of-6 free-throws.  She had four rebounds.  Voegei added 21 points (9-of-16 field goals and 3-of-5 free-throws) and grabbed seven rebounds.  She was credited for three blocked shots.
• Hughes scored 15 points off the bench for MSU after going 5-of-10 from the field, 3-of-5 from the 3-point line, and 2-of-4 free-throws.  She dished out a team-high four assists.
• Mayville State shot 50.9 percent overall from the field (28-of-55 field goals) compared to Dakota State 42.9 percent (27-of-63 field goals).  The Comets were 7-of-16 3-pointers, while the Trojans were 4-of-14 3-pointers.
• DSU converted 24-of-32 free-throws (75 percent).  MSU was 13-of-17 free-throws (76.5 percent).
• The Trojans won the rebounding battle, outrebounding the Comets 37-31.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director