November 6, 2021

Photos credits by Karen Giles

SEWARD, Neb. – Dakota State (S.D.) earned a 37-33 halftime lead on the second day of the Cattle Classic women's basketball action with host-team Concordia (Neb.) at Friedrich Arena Saturday afternoon.  The Bulldogs used a second-half surge, outscoring the Trojans 55-43 in the final twenty minutes of the game to earn an 88-80 victory in the early battle of NAIA's Top 25 nationally ranked teams.

Dakota State, ranked No. 13 in the preseason poll, fell to 4-3 overall record.  Concordia, who is No. 9 in the preseason national poll, improved to 2-1 overall record. 

The Trojans stay on the road next weekend, playing in the two-day Viterbo (Wis.) Classic.  The Trojans play an exhibition game with NCAA Division II Winona State (Minn.) on Friday at 1 p.m. followed by another contest with Florida Memorial next Saturday at 1 p.m.  The tournament is being played at R.W. Beggs Gymnasium in La Crosse, Wis.

(9) Concordia (Neb.) 88, (13) Dakota State (S.D.) 80 – FINAL

• Savannah Walsdorf fueled the Trojans with back-to-back 3-pointers for a 6-0 lead with eight minutes, fifty-five seconds on the clock.
• Concordia answered with seven straight points, capped by a 3-pointer by Mackenzie Toomey for a 7-6 lead with 7:09 to go in the first period.
• Miakken Vincent drained a 3-pointer to give DSU a 16-10 lead with 3:46 to go in the first, sparking a 10-3 run.
• The Bulldogs closed the first period with a 9-0 scoring tear in the final 2:16 to earn a 19-16 lead, thanks to 7-of-7 free-throw during the scoring run.
• Dakota State was 5-of-12 from the field in the first period (41.7 percent) and limited Concordia to 5-of-18 field goals (27.8 percent).  CUNE was 8-of-9 from the free-throw line, while DSU was 2-of-2 free-throws.
• The Trojans outscored the Bulldogs 10-2 to kick off the second quarter, highlighted by back-to-back lay-ups by Courtney Menning to put DSU up 28-21 with 7:12 on the clock.
• Dakota State outscored Concordia 21-14 in the second period to grab a four-point lead at halftime. 
• DSU shot 57.1 percent from the field in the second quarter (8-of-14 field goals) and held CUNE to 35.3 percent (6-of-17 field goals).
• The Trojans maintained their lead for the majority of the third quarter before the Bulldogs overtook the lead near the end of the third period.
• Taysha Rushton hit a 3-pointer with less than five seconds to go in the third, giving Concordia a 57-55 lead.  CUNE outscored DSU 24-18 in the third period.
• Concordia stretched its lead to 70-58 with 6:25 remaining, thanks to their 13-2 scoring run to start the fourth quarter.
• The Bulldogs maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the fourth quarter to secure the victory.  The Trojans could get no closer than eight points with less than ten seconds after a 3-pointer by Lexi Robson.
• Concordia poured in 31 points in the fourth period, while Dakota State scored 25 points.
• Walsdorf, Menning, and Jessi Giles each scored 15 points for the Trojans.  Walsdorf stole the ball three times and grabbed five rebounds.  Giles had six rebounds.  Menning recorded four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. 
• Ashlyn Macdonald scored 11 points and grabbed four rebounds off the bench for DSU.  Robson had eight points and five assists. 
• Abby Heemstra scored 19 points on her 7-of-14 field goals and 5-of-6 free-throws for Concordia.  She pulled down eight rebounds.  Rushton added 17 points, six rebounds, and three steals.  Rylee Pauli had 16 points and earned nine rebounds.  She stole the ball four times.
• Sadie Powell scored 11 points for the Bulldogs.  Bailey Conrad dished out nine assists.
• Dakota State shot 51.9 percent overall from the field (28-of-54 field goals) compared to Concordia 41.2 percent (28-of-68 field goals).
• The Bulldogs went to the free-throw line 34 times, making 26 free-throws (76.5 percent).  The Trojans were 16-of-20 free-throws (80 percent).
• CUNE outrebounded DSU 39-33 in the game.  Both teams scored 36 points in the paint. 
• Walsdorf was named to the Cattle Classic All-Tournament team.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director