December 2, 2021

PHOTO GALLERY - Photos credits by Cody Welu and Karen Giles

MADISON, S.D. – NAIA's No. 18 ranked Dakota State (S.D.) women's basketball team used a balanced scoring attack Thursday evening, rolling to a 91-49 non-conference victory over NCAA Division III Minnesota-Morris at DSU Fieldhouse.  Five Trojan players scored double digits and produced a season-high 63 points in the first twenty minutes of the game.

Dakota State, who never trailed in the game, won their season-high fifth straight game to lift their overall record to 9-3.  The Trojans had won for the 17th time in the last 18 home games at DSU Fieldhouse, dating back to last season.  Minnesota-Morris fell to 1-7 overall record, including three consecutive setbacks against North Star Athletic Association's foes.

It was the first meeting for both teams since Dec. 14, 2012.  DSU had won the last three meetings with MM.

The Trojans continue their home stand Saturday afternoon, opening their NSAA conference play against their traveling partner Bellevue (Neb.).  Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.

(18) Dakota State (S.D.) 91, Minnesota-Morris 49 – FINAL

• Dakota State stormed to a 13-2 lead with five minutes, fifty-one seconds on the clock in the first period capped by a pair of free-throws by Cheylee Nagel.
• The Trojans ballooned their lead to 29-7 by the end of the first quarter, thanks to their blazing 55.6 percent shooting from the field (10-of-18 field goals).  Minnesota-Morris was held to 15.4 percent from the fie field (2-of-13 field goals) in the first ten minutes of the game.
• Shaylee DeBeer drained a pair of 3-pointers, while Nagel added a pair of baskets to spark DSU's 10-0 second quarter opening run.  Dakota State led 39-7 with 8:10 on the clock.
• Ashlyn Macdonald hit a 3-pointer as second quarter's time expired (assisted by Miakken Vincent, widening their lead to 63-18.
• Dakota State outscored Minnesota-Morris 34-11 in the second period.
• DSU was red-hot from the field in the first half, making 24 baskets in 38 attempts (63.2 percent).  The Trojans also hit 7-of-13 from the 3-point arc.  MM was held to 18.5 percent from the field (5-of-27 field goals).
• Lilli Mackley made a basket inside the paint to give DSU its biggest lead of the game at 81-26 with 3:37 to go in the third period.
• The Trojans led 83-31 by the end of the third quarter, shooting 9-of-16 from the field (56.3 percent).  The Cougars shot 30.8 percent (4-of-13 field goals) in the third.
• Minnesota-Morris outscored Dakota State 18-8 in the fourth period.
• Savannah Walsdorf (6-of-8 field goals), Jessi Giles (5-of-8 field goals), and Lexi Robson (6-of-11 field goals) each tallied 13 points for the Trojans.  DeBeer had 12 points.  Nagel scored a season-high 10 points off the bench.  Mackley had eight points.  Elsie Aslesen, Courtney Menning, and Angela Slattery each scored five points.
• Aslesen pulled down a season-high nine rebounds for DSU.  Giles added five rebounds.  Walsdorf, Aslesen, and Giles each were credited for two blocked shots.  McKenzie Hermanson also registered a block.
• Menning dished out a game-high five assists for Dakota State.  Walsdorf, Aslesen, Robson, and Macdonald each stole the ball three times.
• Malory Anderson led the Cougars with 16 points on her 5-of-7 field goals and 4-of-4 free-throws.  Lexus Eagle Chasing added nine points and seven rebounds.  Jay Kwateh had three steals. 
• Dakota State shot 52.1 percent overall from the field (37-of-71 field goals) and 9-of-26 3-pointers (34.6 percent).  Minnesota-Morris was held to 27.1 percent from the field (13-of-48 field goals) and 4-of-15 from the 3-point arc (26.7 percent).
• MM converted 19-of-23 from the free-throw line (82.6 percent).  DSU was 8-of-14 free-throws (57.1 percent).
• The Trojans outrebounded the Cougars 40-34. 
• Dakota State outscored Minnesota-Morris 34-15 in points off turnovers, 56-18 inside the paint, 14-2 in fast-break points, and 42-29 in bench points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director