January 14, 2022

PHOTO GALLERY - Photos credits by Cody Welu and Karen Giles

MADISON, S.D. – No. 21 ranked Dakota State (S.D.) never trailed in the forty minutes North Star Athletic Association women's basketball contest with Mayville State (N.D.) Friday evening at DSU Fieldhouse.  Despite struggling from the field with 39.1 percent accuracy and overcoming MSU's 48.1 field goal percentage, DSU pulled away for a 77-65 victory to stay undefeated in league play.

Dakota State extended their winning streak to four games and lifted their overall record to 14-6 and 4-0 NSAA conference record.  It was the 18th straight NSAA conference regular-season victory and 25th straight victory against members of the NSAA opponents including non-conference and postseason games, dating back to last season.

Mayville State fell to 10-3 overall record and recorded its first NSAA conference setback of the season (2-1 NSAA conference record.  DSU earned its sixth straight victory in the series meeting with MSU.

The Trojans continue its four-game NSAA home stand Saturday, hosting Presentation (S.D.) in the third annual Ag Ball festivities at DSU Fieldhouse.  Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. (Jersey Night is the theme).  The Comets take on Bellevue (Neb.) Saturday at Gordon Lozier Center with a 3 p.m. tipoff. 

(21) Dakota State (S.D.) 77, Mayville State (N.D.) 65 – FINAL

• Elsie Aslesen and Lexi Robson opened the game with a basket to give the Trojans a 4-0 lead (eight minutes and forty-two seconds on the clock).
• Erin Walcker drained a 3-pointer for the Comets' first points of the game at 8:29 on the clock (DSU led 4-3).
• DSU controlled its lead between 1- and 6-points in the first quarter.  Robson stole the ball and converted a basket to give Trojans a 21-13 lead with less than 25 seconds to go.
• Jordan Zrust would close the first period with a basket inside the paint (assisted by Mackenzie Hughes) as the Comets trimmed DSU's lead to 21-15.
• Mayville State shot 58.3 percent from the field (7-of-12 field goals) in the first ten minutes of the game but committed 11 turnovers.  Dakota State shot 38.1 percent (8-of-21 field goals).
• Both teams battled back and forth in the second quarter as the Trojans maintained their lead between four-and eight-points. 
• Morgan Huber nailed down a field goal inside the paint to give DSU a 35-27 lead with less a minute to go before intermission.
• Zrust hit a pair of free-throws as Mayville State trimmed Dakota State's lead to 35-29 by halftime.
• Both teams scored 14 points in the second period.
• The Comets shot 48.1 percent from the field in the first twenty minutes of the game (13-of-27 field goals) compared to the Trojans 38.9 percent (14-of-36 field goals).
• Courtney Menning hit a free-throw to give DSU its first double digit lead of the game at 44-34 with 7:14 to go in the third period.
• Leading 44-36, the Trojans went on a 7-0 scoring tear capped by a 3-point play by Shaylee DeBeer to widen their lead to 51-36 with 5:44 on the clock in the third.
• Hughes stole the ball with less than five seconds remaining and followed up with a lay-up as the Comets closed the third quarter trimming the Trojans' lead to 58-47.
• MSU was 7-of-10 from the field in the third quarter (70 percent) compared to DSU 6-of-18 field goals (33.3 percent).  The Comets committed seven turnovers in the first ten minutes of the second half, while the Trojans recorded three turnovers.
• DSU outscored MSU 23-18 in the third quarter.
• Mayville State kicked off the fourth quarter with a 7-1 scoring run, forcing Dakota State to call a timeout with 7:19 left as their lead shrunk to 59-54.
• At 68-60, Dakota State used a 7-0 run highlighted by a 3-pointer by Jessi Giles (assisted by Menning) to register the biggest lead of the game at 75-60 with 3:06 left.
• The Trojans outscored the Comets 19-18 in the final quarter.
• MSU shot identical field goals from the first half in the second half (13-of-27 field goals – 48.1 percent).  DSU was 13-of-33 field goals (39.4 percent) in the final twenty minutes of the game.
• Four Trojan players scored in double figures, paced by Giles with 13 points.  She grabbed a season-high eight rebounds.  Aslesen added 14 points and five rebounds.  Walsdorf tallied 13 points and eight rebounds.  She stole the ball three times and registered a block.
• Robson scored 10 points and recorded three steals for Dakota State.  Menning dished out four assists and stole the ball three times.  DeBeer tallied eight points off the bench. 
• Zrust led the Comets with a game-high 19 points.  She had seven rebounds.  Emma Passa scored 15 points off the bench on her 6-of-6 field goals and 3-of-4 free-throws.
• Walcker tallied 12 points for MSU.  Danneka Voegeli had nine points and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds.  She had three assists, three steals, and two blocks.
• Hughes, Cj Decker, and Kayla Rocholl each contributed four assists for Mayville State.
• The Comets shot 26-of-54 overall from the field (48.1 percent) compared to the Trojans 27-of-69 field goals (39.1 percent).  DSU was 6-of-22 from the 3-point arc, while MSU was 3-of-16 3-pointers.
• Dakota State converted 17-of-25 free-throws (68 percent).  Mayville State hit 10-of-17 free-throws (58.8 percent).
• MSU outrebounded DSU 40-38.  The Trojans outrebounded the Comets 14-8 on the offensive boards. 
• Dakota State outscored Mayville State 27-11 in points off turnovers and 11-7 in second chance points.

	Game Day Sponsor Heartland Consumers Power District
	National Banner Recognition 2021 Dakota State University Men's Cross Country Team

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director