February 13, 2021

Photos credit by Karen Giles

VALLEY CITY, N.D. – No. 17-ranked Dakota State (S.D.) overcame Valley City State's (N.D.) hot shooting in the North Star Athletic Association women's basketball contest Saturday afternoon at W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse, holding on to an 87-80 high scoring affair.  The victory also secured the league title outright for the Trojans, their first North Star women's basketball conference title and 16th overall regular-season conference title in program history.  Dakota State collected its first regular-season title for the first time since the 2007-08 season, where the Trojans were dominant in the former Dakota Athletic Conference during the 2000's. 

Dakota State earned its regular-season conference title outright for the first time since 2006-07 season.

DSU ended their losing skid on VCSU's floor, recording its first win since Feb. 2, 2008.  The Trojans extended their historic winning streak to 17 games, raising their overall record to 21-3.  Dakota State matched its overall wins since 2007-08 (21 wins).

The Trojans won their 10th straight road game.  DSU remained perfect in the North Star conference with a 13-0 record, their most conference wins since joining the league in 2013-14.  Dakota State completed its season series sweep with the Vikings, including a pair of home victory with VCSU earlier this season.

Valley City State fell to 7-12 overall record and 5-8 record in league play. 

Dakota State wraps up their regular-season schedule on the road, playing their final road contest of the season on Thursday evening.  The Trojans visit Bellevue (Neb.) in the North Star contest with a 5:30 p.m. tip-off at Gordon Lozier Center in Bellevue.

(17) Dakota State (S.D.) 87, Valley City State (N.D.) 80 – FINAL

• After the Vikings opened the game with a 2-0 lead, the Trojans went on an 8-0 scoring run after going 3-of-4 from the field.  Jessi Giles drained a pair of 3-pointers to give DSU an 8-2 lead with eight minutes, twenty-one seconds on the clock.
• The Trojans stretched its lead to 13-6 after a 3-poitner by Elsie Aslesen (assisted by Ashlyn Macdonald) with less than six minutes to go in the first period.
• Shaylee DeBeer made a pair of free-throws to put Dakota State ahead at 17-9 with 2:56 left in the first.
• Valley City State stormed back to close the first quarter with an 11-2 outburst in the final 2:47, earning a 20-19 lead after a basket by Adriana Torres to end the period.
• The Vikings shot 9-of-14 from the field in the first ten minutes of the game (64.3 percent) compared to the Trojans 7-of-17 field goals (41.2 percent).
• Dakota State kicked off the second quarter by scoring five straight points to regain their lead.  Lexi Robson completed a 3-point play to give DSU a 24-20 lead with 9:19 on the clock.
• When Savannah Walsdorf stole the ball, Courtney Menning followed up with a basket for the biggest lead of the game at 37-28 with 4:13 to go before intermission.
• The Vikings answered back with an 8-0 scoring run to cut the Trojans' lead to 37-36 with 1:47 left in second.
• Walsdorf hit a pair of free-throws as the Trojans closed the first half with a 44-40 lead.
• DSU outscored VCSU 25-20 in the second quarter.  The Vikings shot a sizzling 62.5 percent from the field (15-of-24 field goals) in the first half compared to the Trojans 44.7 percent (17-of-38 field goals).
• Dakota State maintained their lead between one- and seven-point for the majority of the third quarter before Valley City State made a late run to regain their lead.
• Trailing 59-53, the Vikings went on a 9-2 run to earn a 62-61 lead after a field goal by Allie Critchley with 2:06 to go in the third.
• VCSU led 67-66 by the end of the third period.  The Vikings outscored the Trojans 27-22 in the first ten minutes of the second half.
• Torres drained a 3-pointer to kick off the fourth quarter to balloon Valley City State lead to 70-66 with 8:54 remaining in the game.
• Dakota State held VCSU scoreless for four-plus minutes, fueling an 11-0 outburst.  Macdonald completed a 3-point play to give Trojans a 77-70 lead with 5:03 left.
• Valley City State answered back with a 5-0 run to cut Trojans' lead to 77-75 after a basket by Macey Kvilvang with less than four minutes remaining.
• Emma Nielsen drained a 3-pointer as the Vikings trimmed their deficit to 81-80 with 1:59 remaining. 
• The Trojans held the Vikings scoreless for the rest of the game, securing the victory.  DSU went 4-of-6 from the free-throw line in the final 45 seconds of the game.
• Dakota State outscored Valley City State 21-13 in the fourth period.  The Trojans were 16-of-36 from the field (44.4 percent) compared to the Vikings 17-of-37 field goals (45.9 percent).
• Five Trojan players hit double figures, paced by Giles with 17 points.  She was 6-of-9 from the field, including 3-of-6 from the 3-point arc.  She had five rebounds.  Menning (6-of-10 field goals) and Robson (5-of-10 field goals) each added 14 points and dished out four assists.
• Walsdorf tallied 12 points and stole the ball five times off the bench for DSU.  Aslesen scored 11 points and pulled down seven rebounds.  Cheylee Nagel had seven points.
• Menning stole the ball six times for Dakota State.  Morgan Koepsell added three steals.
• Maara Nelson and Torres each scored 24 points for Valley City State.  Nelson was 10-of-17 from the field, while Torres was 9-of-16 from the field including 4-of-5 from the 3-point arc. 
• Viking Kvilvang posted a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds.  She registered five blocks.  Critchley and Torres each contributed five assists.
• Taryn Dieterle had nine points and six rebounds off the bench for VCSU.  Emma Nielsen scored eight points.
• Valley City State shot 52.5 percent overall from the field (32-of-61 field goals) compared to Dakota State 44.6 percent (33-of-74 points).  Both teams drained seven 3-pointers in the game.
• DSU converted 14-of-19 free-throws (73.7 percent).  VCSU was 9-of-13 from the free-throw line (69.2 percent). 
• The Vikings had a slim rebounding edge over the Trojans 30-29. 
• VCSU committed 23 turnovers in the game.  DSU outscored the Vikings 34-10 in points off turnovers. 
• Dakota State outscored Valley City State 57-38 inside the paint, 12-5 in second chance points and 25-11 in bench points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director