February 27, 2021

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

MADISON, S.D. – Top-seeded Dakota State (S.D.), who was trailing as many as 16 points in the third period, roared back with a 30-10 fourth-quarter outburst to earn an 80-72 victory over second-seeded Bellevue (Neb.) in the North Star Athletic Association women's basketball postseason championship instant classic Saturday evening at DSU Fieldhouse.  The victory also punched the Trojans to the NAIA National Tournament, their first trip since the 2007-08 season.

Dakota State extended their historic winning streak to 21 games and tied the school record of 25 overall victories with the 1999-2000 squad.  The Trojans are 25-3 overall record and swept the North Star Athletic Association regular-season and conference tournament titles.  It was the first NSAA tournament title in program history. 

It was the first time since the 2006-07 season that the Trojans won both regular-season and conference tournament titles in the former Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC). 

DSU wrapped up their home court schedule with an astounding 14-1 record, suffering its only setback to then No. 24-ranked Morningside (Iowa) 74-67 on Nov. 17 (DSU have not loss since).

Bellevue fell to 17-7 overall record, most likely ending their season.  It was the second NSAA championship game appearance in the last three seasons for the Bruins.

Dakota State awaits to hear on where they will be located and the opponents in the 3-team pod of the 48-team NAIA National Tournament Opening Round, which is scheduled for March 12-13 on eight different sites announced by the national office.  The NAIA Basketball Selection Show is scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m. on PlayNAIA Facebook page.

The winner of each national tournament opening round will advance to the final site on March 18-23 at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

(14) Dakota State (S.D.) 80, Bellevue (Neb.) 72 – FINAL

• The first period saw a total of two ties and seven lead changes by Dakota State and Bellevue, with the lead no greater than six points.
• Savannah Walsdorf drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Shaylee DeBeer) as the Trojans opened a 16-11 lead with 4:41 on the clock in the first.
• A basket by Laura Jurek gave the Bruins a 21-19 lead with 1:07 left in the first quarter.  Both teams did not score in the final minute as the BU held on to a two-point lead.
• The Bruins stretched its lead after kicking off the second period by making three straight baskets from three different players (Jurek, Jamie Winkler and Elexis Martinez), fueling a 7-0 run for a 28-19 lead with 8:55 on the clock.
• Trailing 30-21, the Trojans went on an 8-0 scoring run to cut BU's lead to 30-29 after Morgan Koepsell's basket inside the paint with 4:14 to go before intermission. 
• Bellevue held Dakota State scoreless for the rest of the second quarter, scoring seven straight points to widen their lead to 37-29 by halftime.
• DSU shot 37.8 percent from the field (14-of-37 field goals) compared to BU 36.6 percent (15-of-41 field goals) in the first twenty minutes of the game.
• Bellevue led in double digits for much of the third quarter.  The Bruins continued its scoring run from the second quarter, extending it to 14-0 run to balloon their lead to 44-29 after Martinez's basket with 8:10 on the clock.
• The Trojans answered back with six straight point s to cut the Bruins' lead to 44-35 after Courtney Menning's basket with 6:34 in the third.
• Lexi Allen drained a 3-pointer to give Bellevue its biggest lead of the game at 53-37 with 3:28 remaining in the third period.
• The Bruins led 62-50 by the end of the third quarter.  BU outscored DSU 25-21 in the first ten minutes of the second half.
• Dakota State stormed back with a blazing 22-4 run in the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter to regain their lead.
• Jessi Giles drained a 3-pointer with 5:08 remaining (assisted by Menning) as the Trojans knotted the game at 66-66. 
• DSU continued its scoring run as Lexi Robson hit a 3-pointer (assisted by Savanna Walsdorf) for a 69-66 lead with 3:46 left.  She added a pair of free-throws to put Trojans up 71-66 with 3:07 to go.
• Walsdorf made a driving lay-up as Dakota State ballooned their lead to 74-67 with 2:23 remaining.
• Bellevue could get no closer than three points at 75-72 after Faith Ross' 3-pointer with 1:31 remaining.
• The Trojans' defense held the Bruins to no points for the rest of the game, closing with a 5-0 run.  Koepsell hit a free-throw with 1:19 left for DSU's 76-72 lead.
• Menning added a basket with less than 25 seconds remaining to extend Trojans' lead to 78-72.  Koepsell sealed the game by making two more free-throws for an eight-point victory.
• Dakota State shot a sizzling 75 percent in the final quarter (9-of-12 field goals) and went 10-of-13 from the free-throw line.  Bellevue was held to 3-of-13 field goals (23.1 percent).  The Trojans forced the Bruins to eight turnovers in the final ten minutes of the game.
• DSU also shot a blazing 63 percent from the field in the second half (17-of-27 field goals) and held BU to 33.3 percent (10-of-30 field goals).
• Four Trojan players hit double figures, paced by Koepsell with 20 points off the bench.  She was 7-of-8 from the field and converted 6-of-7 free-throws.  She also had six rebounds and registered a game-high four blocks.  Giles added 18 points on her 8-of-13 field goal shooting.
• Menning and Walsdorf each tallied 15 points for DSU.  Robson added seven points and five rebounds.  Menning dished out six assists.  Robson stole the ball four times.  Elsie Aslesen pulled down nine rebounds and stole the ball two times.  Ashlyn Macdonald had eight rebounds.
• Martinez posted a double-double of 17 points and collected 12 rebounds for BU.  Jurek and Ross each added 16 points.  Jurek had seven rebounds and five assists. 
• Dakota State shot 48.4 percent overall from the field (31-of-64 field goals) compared to Bellevue 35.2 percent (25-of-71 field goals).  The Bruins were 8-of-31 3-pointers, while the Trojans were 5-of-19 from the 3-point arc.
• BU converted 14-of-19 free-throws compared to DSU 13-of-17 free-throws (76.5 percent).  
• The Trojans held a slim rebounding edge over the Bruins 43-42. 
• Dakota State outscored Bellevue 10-4 in fast-break points, 48-28 inside the pant and 35-11 in bench points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director