February 25, 2021

PHOTO GALLERY - Photos credits by Cody Welu, Donald Weidler and Karen Giles

MADISON, S.D. – No. 14-ranked and top-seeded Dakota State (S.D.) continued their historic season Thursday evening at DSU Fieldhouse, pulling away past fourth-seeded Mayville State (N.D.) 72-55 to advance to the North Star Athletic Association women's basketball postseason tournament championship game.  The Trojans completed a perfect 4-0 record against the Comets this season, including a 3-0 record at DSU Fieldhouse.

Dakota State extended their school record winning streak to 20 games, lifting their overall record to 24-3.  It is the second most wins in the women's basketball program history, first time since 1999-000 squad with the school record 25 victories.

Mayville State ended their season with an overall record of 14-8.

The Trojans compete in the North Star Athletic Association women's basketball tournament's championship game for the first time in school history.  DSU hosts No. 2 seed Bellevue (Neb.) (17-6 overall record), who defeated No. 6 seed Dickinson State (N.D.) 83-58 Thursday evening.  Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.

(14) Dakota State (S.D.) 72, Mayville State (N.D.) 55 – FINAL

• The Trojans and Comets exchanged leads four times in the first ten minutes of the game, with the lead no greater than five points by MSU.
• Jessi Giles kicked off the game with a 3-pointer (assisted by Lexi Robson) to give DSU a 3-0 lead with 9:02 on the clock.
• The Comets went on a 10-2 scoring run, capped by a 3-point play by Jordan Zrust for 10-5 lead with 4:05 to go in the first period.
• Dakota State held Mayville State scoreless for the rest of the first period, fueling a 6-0 run to grab an 11-10 lead.
• DSU was 5-of-14 from the field in the first quarter (35.7 percent) compared to MSU 4-of-13 field goals (30.8 percent).
• The Trojans kept the Comets scoreless for another 3:53, starting the second period with an 8-0 spurt.  Giles hit a pair of free-throws to balloon DSU's lead to 19-10.
• Mayville State ended its scoring drought with a basket by Danneka Voegeli (assisted by CJ Decker) with 6:07 to go before intermission (DSU led 19-12).
• A lay-up by Elsie Aslesen (assisted by Savannah Walsdorf) gave the Trojans its first double-digit lead of the game at 24-14 with 4:41 on the clock in the second.
• DSU led 31-23 by halftime.  The Trojans were 42.9 percent from the field (12-of-28 field goals), while the Comets were 37.5 percent (9-of-24 field goals).
• MSU could get no closer than nine points on two different occasions in the third period.  Both teams struggled offensively in the first three minutes, scoring just three points total combined.  Aslesen made a lay-up to give DSU a 33-23 lead with 8:26 on the clock.
• Zrust hit a free-throw as the Comets trimmed Trojans' lead to 33-24 with 6:53 left in the third.
• Dakota State went on a 7-0 run to widen their lead to 40-24 after a pair of free-throws by Walsdorf with 5:23 on the clock. 
• Decker made a basket (assisted by Kayla Rocholl) as the Comets trimmed DSU's lead to 41-32 with 3:15 left in the third period.
• Courtney Menning made a lay-up on DSU's fast-break opportunity from Shaylee DeBeer's steal as the third quarter expired, fueling a 12-2 outburst in the final 3:09. 
• Dakota State led 53-34 after three quarters, outscoring Mayville State 22-11 in the third.
• Dakota State controlled the game in the fourth quarter, holding their lead between 15- and 25-points.  Robson made a lay-up with eight minutes left in the game for the largest lead of the game at 61-36.
• Walsdorf scored 13 points off the bench for DSU.  She stole the ball four times.  Giles added 12 points and three assists.  DeBeer tallied 10 points.
• Morgan Koepsell had nine points and three rebounds for the Trojans.  Aslesen and Menning each added eight points.  Ashlyn Macdonald pulled down six rebounds. 
• Robson and Menning each recorded four steals for Dakota State. 
• Voegeli and Zrust each scored 12 points and collected eight rebounds for the Comets.  Voegeli dished out three assists.  Erin Walcker added nine points, grabbed six rebounds, and contributed four assists. 
• Dakota State shot 45 percent overall from the field (27-of-60 field goals) compared to Mayville State 42.2 percent (19-of-45 field goals).  MSU was 4-of-11 from the 3-point line, while DSU was 3-of-15 from the 3-point arc.
• The Trojans converted 15-of-19 free-throws (78.9 percent).  The Comets were 13-of-15 from the free-throw line (86.7 percent). 
• Mayville State outrebounded Dakota State 39-23 in the game. 
• The Comets committed 33 turnovers while the Trojans only recorded 12 turnovers.  DSU outscored MSU 32-10 in points off turnovers.  Dakota State stole the ball 19 times compared to Mayville State four steals.
• DSU outscored MSU 46-24 inside the paint, 36-13 in bench points, and 16-2 in transition points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director