November 18, 2022

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) continued its dominance in the two-day Dakota Clash tournament, with the third year being held at Strode Center on the campus of Presentation (S.D.) in the battle of North Star Athletic Association teams with South Dakota facing North Dakota teams.  The Trojans held the Vikings scoreless in the first four-and-half minutes and never trailed in the forty minutes ball game, rolling to a 70-49 non-conference victory

The Trojans extended their winning streak to five games, raising their overall record to 5-3 and remained undefeated in the annual Dakota Clash tournament since its inception in 2020 (5-0 record).  Valley City State fell to 4-2 overall record.

DSU wraps up their three-game week slate Saturday afternoon as they close out the preseason tournament's schedule versus Mayville State (N.D.).  Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at Strode Center.

Dakota State (S.D.) 70, Valley City State (N.D.) 49 – FINAL

• Five different players – Savannah Walsdorf, Morgan Huber, Lilli Mackley, and Sidney Fick – scored in first three minutes of the game, rolling to a 10-0 lead.
• The Vikings missed its first four shots of the game.  VCSU snapped its scoring drought with a 3-pioonter from Ashlyn Diemert with 5:29 on the clock (DSU led 10-3).
• Walsdorf wrapped up the first quarter with a basket to give the Trojans a 16-9 lead with 30 seconds to go.
• DSU was 6-of-15 from the field in the first ten minutes (40 percent).  VCSU was held to 4-of-12 field goals (33.3 percent).
• Dakota State kicked off the second period with an 8-2 scoring run, highlighted by Courtney Menning's four straight points to put Trojans up 24-11 with 7:19 on the clock.
• Leading 24-14, Huber drained a 3-pointer followed by a pair of free-throws from Caitlin Dyer to spark DSU's 5-0 scoring run to balloon their lead to 29-14 with 4:43 to go before halftime.
• The Trojans maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the first half.  Menning added a pair of free-throws to balloon DSU's lead to 35-22 by halftime.
• Dakota State outscored Valley City State 19-13 in the second quarter.  DSU was 5-of-12 from the field (41.7 percent) and converted 8-of-9 free-throws.  VCSU was 6-of-18 field goals (33.3 percent) and made a free-throw in two attempts.
• The Trojans maintained control for the rest of the game, leading as many as 17 points in the third quarter.  Angela Slattery made a basket with less than two minutes to go in the third quarter, leading 48-31.
• Dakota State stretched its lead to 53-35 with less than 30 seconds to go in the third quarter. 
• DSU outscored VCSU 18-13 in the first ten minutes of the second half.
• The Trojans posted the biggest lead of the game with 2:15 remaining in the game as Dyer drained a 3-pointer for a 70-46 lead.
• Walsdorf led DSU with 14 points on her 6-of-8 field goals.  She also had four rebounds.  Dyer added 13 points, two assists, and two steals off the bench.  Huber tallied 11 points (4-of-8 field goals). 
• Elsie Aslesen had eight points and pulled down seven rebounds for Dakota State.  Slattery had seven points and five rebounds.  Aslesen and Slattery each registered two blocked shots.
• Valley City State's starters scored 19 points in the game.  Diemert scored 11 points and grabbed five rebounds off the bench.  She was 4-of-6 from the field.  Madison Wilhelmi added seven points.  Hailey Roberts and Taryn Dieterele each had six points. 
• Dakota State shot 40.4 percent overall from the field (23-of-57 field goals) and held Valley City State to 36.5 percent (19-of-52 field goals).  DSU was 5-of-28 3-pointers, while VCSU was 3-of-13 3-ointers.
• The Trojans converted 19-of-26 free-throws (73.1 percent).  The Vikings were 8-of-13 free-throws.
• VCSU outrebouned DSU 36-24.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director