February 12, 2021

Photos credit by Karen Giles

DICKINSON, N.D. – Nationally-ranked No. 17 Dakota State (S.D.) used a strong 14-2 outburst in the final 3:16 of the game, holding off Dickinson State's (N.D.) furious late second-half comeback for an 81-67 North Star Athletic Association women's basketball victory Friday night at Scott Gymnasium.  The victory also clinched at least a share of the NSAA conference regular-season title, first regular-season title since the 2007-08 season when the Trojans dominated the former Dakota Athletic Conference during the 2000's.

Dakota State extended their historic winning streak to 16 games, raising their overall record to 20-3.  The Trojans, who collected their first ever NSAA women's basketball regular-season title since the league formed in 2013-14, remained perfect in the league play with 12-0 record.  Dakota State won their ninth straight road game.

DaSU also won their ninth straight meeting with the Blue Hawks and completed their season series sweep for the fourth consecutive year.  DiSU fell to 8-10 overall record and 6-6 in conference play.  The Blue Hawks in a two-way tie for fourth place with Mayville State (N.D.), who lost at home versus Viterbo (Wis.) Friday by the score of 56-53. 

Dakota State wraps up their trip in North Dakota Saturday as they play another North Star conference game.  The Trojans visit Valley City State (N.D.) at W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse in Valley City, N.D. with a 3 p.m. tip-off.

Dickinson State stays home Saturday afternoon as they face Bellevue (Neb.) at 4 p.m. (Central Time)/3 p.m. (Mountain Time). 

(17) Dakota State (S.D.) 81, Dickinson State (N.D.) 67 – FINAL

• There was a total of eight lead changes and four ties, with the lead no greater than four points in the first ten minutes of the game.  A 3-pointer by Morgan Koepsell (assisted by Morgan Huber) gave the Trojans an 8-4 lead with 5:05 to go in the first.
• The Blue Hawks answered with a 5-0 run to regain their lead a 9-8 after a 3-pointer by Mackenzi Reed with 4:16 on the clock.
• Miakken Vincent drained a 3-pointer as the Trojans knotted the game at 17-17 near the end of the first quarter (assisted by Shaylee DeBeer).
• DiSU shot 40 percent from the field (6-of-15 field goals) in the first period and held DaSU to 29.4 percent field goal shooting (5-of-17 field goals).
• Dakota State kicked off the second period by making four straight baskets from four different scorers, – Jessi Giles, DeBeer, Savannah Walsdorf, and Vincent  – sparking a 10-0 run.  Vincent capped the scoring run with a 3-pointer as the Trojans ballooned their lead to 27-17 with less than eight minutes to go in the second.
• Leading 33-27, DaSU closed the second quarter with a 14-5 run in the final 3:48 to widen their lead to 47-32.
• Dakota State poured in 30 points in the second period and held Dickinson State to 15 points.  The Trojans shot 12-of-25 from the field (48 percent) in the second quarter.  DiSU was held to 5-of-12 field goals (41.7 percent) and committed 10 turnovers in the final ten minutes of the first half.
• Dakota State used another fast start, scoring 11 straight points to kick off the third quarter fueled by Courtney Menning's eight points during the run.  Elsie Aslesen hit a free-throw to give DaSU its biggest lead of the game at 56-32 with 6:36 to go in the third.
• Lexi Robson added a pair of free-throws as the Trojans hit the largest lead of the game at 58-34 with 6:08 on the clock in the third.
• Dickinson State mounted a comeback, closing the third quarter on an 18-5 run.  The Blue Hawks were 7-of-11 from the field during the scoring run, cutting DaSU's lead to 63-52 by the end of the third.
• The Blue Hawks continued its scoring run by scoring the first seven points of the fourth period.  Courtney Olson made a basket as DiSU cut the Trojans' lead to 63-59 with 6:36 remaining.
• Dakota State ended their scoring drought with four straight points to stretch their lead to 67-59 after a basket by Robson with 4:42 left.
• Dickinson State then went on a 6-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer by Reed.  The Blue Hawks trailed 67-65 with 3:40 to go in the game.
• DaSU held DiSU to one field goal for the rest of the game, securing the victory.  The Blue Hawks were scoreless for nearly three minutes, allowing the Trojans to stretch their lead to 77-65 after a basket by Menning with 1:06 left.
• The Blue Hawks ended their drought with field goal by Olson with less than 50 seconds left (Trojans led 77-67). 
• A 3-pointer by Ashlyn Macdonald with less than 25 seconds to go put the game away for the Trojans (DaSU led 80-67).
• Dakota State outscored Dickinson State 18-15 in the final quarter.  The Blue Hawks shot 14-of-31 from the field (45.2 percent) and 7-of-13 from the 3-point arc in the second half.  The Trojans were 37.9 percent from the field (11-of-29 field goals), 5-of-12 from the 3-point line and converted 7-of-10 free-throws.
• Giles led the Trojans with 15 points.  She grabbed a season-high seven rebounds.  Menning added 14 points and recorded a career-high seven steals.  Koepsell scored 13 points off the bench on her 5-of-6 field goals, including 3-of-4 from the 3-point line. 
• Robson tallied 10 points and three assists for Dakota state.  She had two steals.  Aslesen had five points, six rebounds and four steals.  Macdonald pulled down six rebounds and had five points.  Vincent had nine points.
• Olson paced the Blue Hawks with 20 points, five rebounds and five steals.  Ashlie Watts added 18 points, five rebounds and four assists.  Dakota Dosch had seven points and six rebounds off the bench.
• Dickinson State shot 43.1 percent overall from the field (25-of-58 field goals) compared to Dakota State 39.4 percent (28-of-71 field goals).  The Trojans drained 12 3-pointers in 32 attempts (37.5 percent), while the Blue Hawks were 11-of-24 3-pointers (48.5 percent).
• DaSU converted 13 free-throws in 16 tries (81.3 percent).  DiSU struggled from the free-throw line, making six free-throws in 12 attempts (50 percent).
• Dakota State outrebounded Dickinson State 44-36.  The Trojans outscored the Blue Hawks 28-14 in points off turnovers, 32-24 inside the paint, 14-7 in second chance points and 32-16 in bench points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director