November 19, 2022

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) pulled away past Mayville State (N.D.) Saturday afternoon, thanks to their second quarter surge, for an 83-75 non-conference victory over Mayville State (N.D.) at Strode Center in the annual Dakota Clash tournament.  The Trojans lifted their all-time 6-0 record in the two-day tournament (battle of South Dakota and North Dakota teams from the North Star Athletic Association, where its inception was started in 2020 at Dakota State followed by Mayville State as the host in 2021), which was held by Presentation (S.D.) this year.

Dakota State stretched its winning streak to six games, raising their overall record to 6-3.  Mayville State's five-game winning streak came to an end, falling to 5-2 overall record.

It was the eighth straight victory in the series meeting for DSU over MSU.

The Trojans take the week off until next Sunday (Nov. 27) as they return home to start their two-game home stand.  DSU hosts Saint Xavier (Ill.) of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) with a 1 p.m. tip-off.

Dakota State (S.D.) 83, Mayville State (N.D.) 75 – FINAL

• Both teams traded leads in the first two-and-half minutes.  Elsie Aslesen hit a basket with 7:31 on the clock for a 6-5 lead, followed by a 3-pointer from Erin Walcker as MSU regained their lead at 8-6 with 7:20 to go.
• CJ Decker drained another 3-pointer for the Comets to extend their lead to 11-5 with 6:48 on the clock.
• Mayville State led as many as seven points at 20-13 after a basket by Decker with 2:09 remaining in the first period.
• Aslesen hit a pair of free-throws as the Trojans cut the Comets' lead to 20-15 by the end of the first quarter.
• MSU shot 8-of-15 from the field (53.3 percent), including 3-of-6 3-pointers, in the first ten minutes of the game.  DSU was 6-of-15 field goals (40 percent) and 0-of-5 from the 3-point line.
• The Trojans kicked off the second period with an 11-2 scoring surge in the first four-and-half minutes, capped by a 3-pointer by Olivia Ritter.  DSU regained their lead at 26-22 with 5:35 left in the second.
• Mackenzie Hughes hit a 3-pointer as MSU tied the game at 31-31 with 3:16 to go before intermission.
• Sidney Fick closed the second quarter with back-to-back baskets as the Trojans grabbed a 40-36 halftime lead.
• Dakota State outscored Mayville State 25-16 in the second quarter.  The Trojans shot 10-of-19 from the field (52.3 percent), while the Comets were 7-of-12 field goals (58.3 percent). 
• MSU committed six turnovers in the final ten minutes of the first half compared to DSU one turnover.
• Mayville State started the third quarter with a 5-0 run to regain their lead to 41-40 after Walcker's 3-pointer with 8:25 on the clock.
• Tied at 43-43, DSU went on a 14-4 scoring run to earn the first double digit lead of the game.  Fick made a field goal with less than 40 seconds to go in the third.
• Jordan Zrust closed the third period with back-to-back baskets as MSU trimmed DSU's lead to 57-51.
• The Trojans outscored the Comets 17-15 in the third quarter.
• Zrust added two straight baskets to start the fourth quarter, highlighted by a 3-point play as the Comets cut the Trojans' lead to 57-56 with 9:02 left.
• DSU answered with a 5-0 run to increase their lead to 62-57 with 7:22 left after Lilli Mackley's basket.
• Mackley drained a 3-pointer as Dakota State regained their double-digit lead at 72-62 with 5:13 remaining.
• Mayville State could get no closer than three points after Decker's free-throw with less than two minutes left, trailing 78-75.
• Mackley sparked DSU's 5-0 closing run in the final 1:38 of the game with a three-pointer. 
• The Trojans outscored the Comets 26-24 in a high scoring affair fourth period.  DSU was 10-of-16 from the field (62.5 percent) compared to MSU 9-of-15 field goals (60 percent). 
• Aslesen scored 21 points on her 8-of-12 field goals and 4-of-5 free-throws for Dakota State.  She also had six rebounds, two steals, and a block.  Fick tallied 17 points on her 8-of-17 field goals and stole the ball twice. 
• Mackley scored 13 points off the bench for the Trojans.  She also had four rebounds.  Savannah Walsdorf had eight points and pulled down eight rebounds.  Ritter had seven points.  Caitlin Dyer and Angela Slattery each had six points.  Slattery had six rebounds. 
• Zrust posted game-highs double-double of 35 points and 11 rebounds for MSU.  She was 15-of-23 from the field and made all five free-throws.  Walckler added 14 points and two steals.  Decker tallied 10 points and three rebounds.
• Dakota State was 33-of-68 overall from the field (48.5 percent) and 6-of-21 from the 3-point arc.  Mayville State was 30-of-56 field goals (53.6 percent) and 7-of-18 3-pointers.
• DSU hit 11-of-16 from the free throw line.  MSU was 8-of-10 free-throws.
• The Trojans outrebounded the Comets 32-25, including 12-3 on the offensive boards.  Dakota State outscored Mayville State 17-7 in second chance points. 
• DSU shut down MSU 28-0 in bench points.
• A total of eight lead changes and four ties were registered in the game.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director