January 7, 2022

VALLEY CITY, N.D. – Despite holding a slim 16-14 lead after the first period in the North Star Athletic Association women's basketball action Friday evening at W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse, No. 17 ranked Dakota State (S.D.) outscored Valley City State (N.D.) 57-26 in the final 30 minutes of the game for a 73-40 victory.

DSU snapped a two-game losing skid, improving to 12-6 overall record and remained undefeated in North Star conference play with a 2-0 record.  VCSU fell to 4-8 overall record and 1-1 NSAA conference record.  The Trojans had won six straight meetings over the Vikings.

Dakota State heads to Scott Gymnasium Saturday afternoon for another North Star contest with Dickinson State (N.D.).  Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. (Central Time)/3 p.m. (Mountain Time) in Dickinson, N.D.

(17) Dakota State (S.D.) 73, Valley City State (N.D.) 40 – FINAL

• Dakota State opened with a 3-pointer each by Savannah Walsdorf and Elsie Aslesen to open a 6-2 lead with nine minutes and one second on the clock.
• A 3-pointer by Emma Nielsen earned a 14-13 lead for Valley City State with less than 45 seconds to go in the first.
• Aslesen answered with a 3-pointer as the Trojans regained their lead to 16-14.
• VCSU shot 6-of-15 from the first quarter (40 percent) compared to DSU 6-of-16 field goals (37.5 percent).  There were four lead changes in the first ten minutes of the game.
• Taryn Dieterle hit a pair of free throws as the Vikings knotted the game for the second time at 18-18 with 7:35 on the clock in the second.
• Leading 23-21, the Trojans closed the second quarter with a 12-3 run in the final 2:41.  Walsdorf drained a 3-pointer as Dakota State extended their lead to 35-24 by halftime.
• DSU was 11-of-36 from the field in the first half (30.6 percent), while VCSU was 9-of-22 field goals (40.9 percent).
• Dakota State opened the third quarter with a 16-4 outburst, capped by a 3-pointer by Angela Slattery for a 51-28 lead with 3:38 on the clock.
• Lexi Robson closed the third quarter with a second chance opportunity, giving the Trojans a 56-32 lead.  DSU outscored VCSU 21-8 in the third.
• Dakota State maintained control for the rest of the game to secure the victory, outscoring Valley City State 17-8 in the final quarter.
• The Trojans outscored the Vikings 38-16 in the second half.  DSU held VCSU to 17.9 percent shooting in the final twenty minutes of the game (5-of-28 field goals).
• Shaylee DeBeer led the Trojans with 13 points, six rebounds, and four assists off the bench.  Walsdorf and Aslesen each added 12 points.  Aslesen pulled down eight rebounds and registered two blocks.  Jessi Giles had 11 points and four rebounds.
• Robson tallied seven points, six assists, and five rebounds for DSU.  Ashlyn Macdonald had six rebounds and three assists. 
• Slattery scored eight points off the bench for Dakota State.  Morgan Huber, Robson, and Aslesen each stole the ball three times.
• Breanna Price scored 11 points for VCSU.  Dieterle posted a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds.  Nielsen had four steals. 
• Dakota State was 24-of-67 field goals (35.8 percent) in the game and held Valley City State to 28 percent (14-of-50 field goals).  DSU hit 11 3-pointers in 35 tries, while VCSU was 2-of-12 3-pointers.
• The Trojans converted 14-of-23 free-throws (60.9 percent).  VCSU hit 10-of-19 free-throws (52.6 percent).
• DSU outrebounded VCSU 40-37. 
• The Trojans outscored the Vikings 24-10 in points off turnovers, 34-26 inside the paint, 11-5 in second chance point, and 27-7 bench points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director