November 2, 2021

Photos credit by Karen Giles

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – No. 13 Dakota State (S.D.) led 50-45 after three quarters of the non-conference women's basketball action with Dordt (Iowa) at DeWitt Gymnasium Tuesday evening.  The Trojans could not overcome the Defenders' fourth quarter surge, outscoring 35-23 for an 80-73 victory.

The Trojans fell to 3-2 overall record.  Dordt, receiving votes in the NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 preseason poll, lifted their overall record to 3-1.

Dakota State stays on the road this weekend, playing a pair of NAIA's Top 25 teams in the two-day Cattle Classic at Walz Arena in Seward, Neb.  The Trojans play No. 25 Taylor (Ind.) on the first day of the tournament on Friday at 1 p.m.  DSU wraps up the week Saturday with a match-up with host-team No. 9 Concordia (Neb.) at 2 p.m.

(RV) Dordt (Iowa) 80, (13) Dakota State (S.D.) 73 – FINAL

• Dordt held Dakota State for the first three-plus minutes of the game, rolling to an 8-0 lead after a 3-pointer by Hayden Heimensen (assisted by Mya Chmielewski).
• Courtney Menning ended DSU's scoring drought with a lay-up with 6:55 on the clock in the first period (DSU trailed 8-2).
• Menning nailed down a free-throw as the Trojans knotted the game at 13-13 with 1:42 go to in the first.
• The Defenders closed the first quarter with an 8-2 run to earn a 21-15 lead.
• Both teams struggled offensively in the second quarter.  DSU scored DC 11-9 in the period, trailing 30-26 by halftime.  DSU was 26.3 percent from the field in the final ten minutes of the first half (5-of-19 field goals) and limited DC to 22.2 percent (4-of-18 field goals).
• Dordt maintained their lead up to six points through the first three-plus minutes of the third quarter.
• With DC leading 36-30, the Trojans went on an 11-4 scoring tear to grab a 41-40 lead capped by Miakken Vincent's 3-pointer with 2:37 on the clock.
• Jessi Giles made a pair of free-throws as Dakota State extended their lead to 50-45 with less than 35 seconds to go in the third.
• Dakota State outscored Dordt 24-15 in the third quarter, thanks to their sizzling 56.3 percent from the field (9-of-16 field goals).  The Defenders were held to 37.5 percent shooting from the field (6-of-16) in the third period.
• Cheylee Nagel made a lay-up to open a seven-point lead at 52-45 with 9:42 remaining.
• Dordt answered with a 10-2 run to regain a 55-54 lead after a pair of free-throws by Heimensen with 7:05 left.
• Both teams battled back and forth in a tightly closed contest in the fourth quarter before the Defenders pulled away late.
• Dakota State could get no closer than two points after Menning's basket with two minutes to go, trailing 70-68.
• Dordt stretched its lead to 74-68 with less than 40 seconds to go.  Lexi Robson drained a 3-pointer as the Trojans trailed 74-71 with 32 seconds to go.
• Ashhtyn Veerbeek hit a pair of free-throws to put the Defenders up 76-71 with 29 seconds left in the game.
• DSU was unable to convert their scoring opportunity as the DC's Janie Schoonhoven rebounded and was fouled.  She followed up with a pair of free-throws to balloon the Defenders' lead to 78-71 with less than 20 seconds to go.
• Dordt was 10-of-19 from the field (52.6 percent) and made 14-of-18 free-throws in the final quarter.  Dakota State was 10-of-18 field goals (55.6 percent) and did not attempt a single free-throw.
• Giles paced the Trojans with 16 points on her 5-of-11 field goals.  She also stole the ball three times.  Menning added 13 points on her 6-of-10 field goals.  Elsie Aslesen tallied 10 points and grabbed five rebounds.
• Robson had nine points, dished out six assists and five rebounds.  Savannah Walsdorf stole the ball three times.  Vincent scored nine points of the bench on her 3-of-4 from the 3-point arc.  She also had four rebounds.  Shaylee DeBeer pulled down four rebounds.
• Veerbeek poured in 24 points on her 9-of-16 field goals and 6-of-8 free-throws for the Defenders.  She posted a double-double with 12 rebounds.  Schoonhoven added 14 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
• Karly Gustafson had a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds for DC.  Chmielewski dished out four assists and stole the ball four times. 
• Dakota State was 45.3 percent overall from the field (29-of-64 field goals) compared to Dordt 39.4 percent (28-of-71 field goals).  The Trojans hit 7-of-23 from the 3-point line (30.4 percent) and limited the Defenders to 2-of-14 3-pointers (14.3 percent).
• Dordt went to the free-throw line 30 times, making 22 free-throws (73.5 percent).  Dakota State was just 8-of-9 free-throws (88.9 percent).
• The Defenders outrebounded the Trojans 48-32, including 21-8 on the offensive boards.
• There were eight lead changes and four ties in the game.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director