January 22, 2022

PHOTO GALLERY - Photos credits by Cody Welu and Karen Giles

MADISON, S.D. – It was the battle of the remaining undefeated teams in the North Star Athletic Association women's basketball between No. 21 Dakota State (S.D.) and Viterbo (Wis.) Saturday afternoon at DSU Fieldhouse.  It was back-and-forth contest that featured four ties and 12 lead changes, with the V-Hawks using the fourth quarter surge for a 77-71 victory over the Trojans.

Dakota State's 20-game NSAA winning streak came to an end, falling to 16-7 overall record and 6-1 record in the league.  Viterbo won their seventh straight game to raise their overall record to 10-3 and 5-0 record in the conference. 

Both teams will meet again for the next conference contest Friday evening, this time at R.W. Beggs Gymnasium in La Crosse, Wis.  Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.

Viterbo (Wis.) 77, (21) Dakota State (S.D.) 71 – FINAL

• Viterbo kicked off the game by scoring five straight points – 3-pointer by Justyne Burgess followed by a basket Sophie Leinfelder – for a 5-0 lead with eight minutes, fifty-five seconds on the clock in the first.
• The V-Hawks earned the biggest lead of the game at 13-4 as Emma Wagner drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Brook Becker) with 4:33 to go in the first quarter.
• Dakota State roared back by making five straight baskets by three different scorers as part of their 13-0 outburst.  Jessi Giles hit a 3-pointer to give the Trojans a 17-13 lead with 2:34 on the clock in the first.
• Burgess nailed down a 3-pointer as the first quarter expired, regaining a 21-19 lead.
• DSU was 8-of-15 from the field in the first ten minutes of the game, while VU was 8-of-16 field goals.
• The second quarter was back-and-forth battle with four ties and three lead changes, with the lead no greater than four points by the V-Hawks twice.
• Kacie Gross complete the 3-point play with five seconds to go, tying the game for the fifth time at 36-36.
• DSU outscored VU 17-15 in the second quarter.  Viterbo was 7-of-15 from the field while Dakota State went 5-of-18 field goals.
• The Trojans sparked the third quarter opening 7-0 run, ignited by a 3-pointer from Giles followed by a basket by Courtney Menning.  Giles capped the scoring run to widen their lead to 43-36, forcing the V-Hawks to burn a timeout with 8:47 on the clock.
• Shaylee DeBeer hit a 3-pointer (assisted by Lexi Robson) as DSU ballooned their lead to 49-41 with 5:12 to go in the third period.
• Viterbo answered with a 9-0 scoring run to regain their lead at 50-41 after a basket by Gross.
• The Trojans ended their scoreless drought for nearly four minutes, with a lay-up by Elsie Aslesen for at 51-50 lead with 1:18 to go in the third quarter.
• Savannah Walsdorf made a 3-pointer with less than 15 seconds to go as DSU earned a 54-53 lead.
• DSU outscored VU 18-17 in the third quarter. Both teams struggled from the field, shooting below 40 percent (DSU – 38.9 percent, 7-of-18 field goals; VU – 37.5 percent – 6-of-16 field goals).
• Viterbo and Dakota State battled back and forth with three lead changes and three ties in the fourth quarter.
• DSU knotted the game for the eighth time at 62-62 after a layup by Giles with 4:07 remaining. 
• The V-Hawks answered with a 7-0 run from three different scorers, started with a 3-pointer by Ellie Hoesley followed by a basket each by Becker and Chyna Young for a 69-62 lead with 2:26 left.
• Dakota State could get no closer than three points on three different occasions – basket by Walsdorf as DSU trailed 69-66 with 1:12 left, 72-69 after a 3-pointer by Menning with less than 35 seconds, and 74-71 after a basket by Menning with less than 25 seconds to go.
• Viterbo secured the victory after going 3-of-4 free-throws in the final 20 seconds of the game.  Kaitlyn Kennedy hit a pair of free-throws, while Young added a free-throw for a six-point lead with less than five seconds.
• The V-Hawks outscored the Trojans 24-17 in the fourth quarter.  VU was 8-of-16 from the field in the final ten minutes, while the Trojans were 7-of-18 field goals.
• Five DSU players scored double digits in the game, led by Giles with 14 points.  She stole the ball four times.  Walsdorf posted a double-double of 13 points and pulled down 11 rebounds.
• Aslesen scored 12 points and registered three blocks for the Trojans.  Menning added 11 points and four steals.  DeBeer had 10 points and four rebounds off the bench.
• Ashlyn Macdonald collected six rebounds for Dakota State.  Robson tallied six points and dished out six assists.
• Hoesley led the V-Hawks with 16 points and six rebounds off the bench.  Gross added 14 points (6-of-8 field goals) and seven rebounds.
• Becker had 12 points, six assists, and five rebounds off the bench for VU.  Kennedy and Burgess each had nine points.  Nicole Johnson recorded three blocks.
• Viterbo shot 46 percent overall from the field (29-of-63 field goals) compared to Dakota State 39.1 percent (27-of-69 field goals).  Both made seven 3-pointers in the game.
• VU converted 12-of-15 free-throws (80 percent), while DSU was 10-of-13 free-throws (76.9 percent).
• The V-Hawks outrebounded the Trojans 43-35.
• Viterbo's bench outscored Dakota State 41-15.  VU outscored DSU 40-32 inside the paint.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director