November 5, 2022

SEWARD, Neb. – Dakota State (S.D.) faced host-team Concordia (Neb.) of the Great Plains Athletic Conference for the third straight year in the Cattle Classic Saturday afternoon at Friedrich Arena.  The Bulldogs used a late second quarter run to secure a 71-61 victory over the Trojans.

Dakota State, receiving votes in the NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Top 25 national poll, dropped their overall record to 0-3.  Concordia stayed undefeated with a 2-0 record (including a 74-52 victory over North Star's foe Bellevue, Neb. Friday).

The Trojans stay on the road as they face another Great Plains Athletic Conference foe Tuesday evening.  DSU takes on in-state rival Mount Marty (S.D.) with a 6 p.m. tip-off at Cimpl Arena in Yankton, S.D.

Concordia (Neb.) 71, (RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 61 – FINAL

• Dakota State and Concordia went through a closely tight first quarter, struggling offensively with a lead no greater than four points by the Bulldogs.
• Both teams kicked off the game with a lay-up on their first possession, with CUNE's Taysha Rushton making a layup followed by DSU's Savannah Walsdorf's layup to tie the game at 2-2 with nine minutes, forty-four seconds on the clock.
• Miakken Vincent made a lay-up to give the Trojans its first lead at 8-7 with 4:29 on the clock in the first period.
• CUNE would close the first quarter with a 7-3 scoring run to earn a 14-11 lead. The Trojans shot 5-of-15 from the field in the first ten minutes (33.3 percent) compared to the Bulldogs 5-of-19 field goals (26.3 percent).
• Sidney Fick completed a 3-point play as DSU tied the game for the second time at 14-14 with 9:28 to go in the second quarter.
• Abby Krieser quickly answered with five straight points as Concordia stretched its lead to 19-14 with 9:02 on the clock
• After Walsdorf's layup as DSU trailed 19-16, the Bulldogs went on a 7-0 scoring tear to earn the first double digit lead of the game at 26-16 with 5:48 left before halftime.
• Concordia led 33-24 by halftime.  The Bulldogs outscored the Trojans 19-13 in the last ten minutes of the second period.
• CUNE shot 7-of-18 from the field in the second quarter (38.9 percent) and held DSU to 4-of-17 field goals (23.5 percent).
• Trailing 43-31 in the third period, Lilli Mackley sparked DSU's 6-0 scoring run with four straight points followed by Walsdorf's lay-up.  The Trojans cut the Bulldogs' lead to 43-37 with 3:09 on the clock.
• Kendal Brigham made a layup with few seconds before the end of the third quarter, ballooning CUNE's lead to 55-42.
• Concordia outscored Dakota State 22-18 in the third period.  DSU shot 7-of-14 field goals (50 percent) compared to CUNE 8-of-17 field goals (47.1 percent).
• The Bulldogs maintained their lead before the Trojans made a late run to cut their lead within five points.
• Behind 65-51, Dakota State went on a 9-0 scoring surge in a span of three-plus minutes.  Courtney Menning hit a jump shot with 2:04 left as the Trojans trailed 65-60.
• The Trojans were unable to make a field goal in the final 2:04 of the game as the Bulldogs went on a 6-1 closing run to secure the victory.
• DSU outscored CUNE 19-16 in the final quarter.
• Menning led the Trojans with 14 points on her 6-of-12 field goals.  She also stole the ball twice.  She was named to the Cattle Classic All-Tournament Team.
• Fick produced a double-double of 11 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for DSU.  Walsdorf added nine points and collected nine rebounds.  Angela Slattery scored seven points and grabbed eight rebounds off the bench.
• Morgan Huber and Caitlin Dyer each scored five points for Dakota State.  Mackley had six points. 
• Rushton poured in 24 points for Concordia.  She was 8-of-16 from the field and 5-of-8 free-throws.  She also dished out three assists and recorded two steals.
• Abby Krieser had 11 points and six rebounds for CUNE.  Sadie Powel had six points and 11 rebounds.  Megan Belt had eight points off the bench.
• Both teams struggled shooting from the floor, with Concordia shooting 36.8 percent (25-of-68 field goals) and Dakota State shooting 35.9 percent (23-of-64 field goals).
• The Bulldogs hit 7-of-26 from the 3-point arc compared to the Trojans 5-of-22 3-pointers. 
• Concordia made 14-of-19 free-throws (73.7 percent) while Dakota State was 10-of-18 free-throws (55.6 percent).
• DSU outrebounded CUNE 47-44.  The Trojans outscored the Bulldogs 9-0 on second-chance points. 

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director