December 18, 2022

PHOTO GALLERY - Photos credit by Cody Welu

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) overcame nationally-ranked Briar Cliff's (Iowa) fourth quarter fast start, rallying back for an 88-83 non-conference women's basketball thriller at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans earned their season series split with the Chargers this season (BCU defeated DSU 85-78 in the Cattle Classic earlier this season in Seward, Neb.).

Dakota State notched its 35th home victory in the last 38 games held at DSU Fieldhouse, raising their home record to 4-0 record this season.  It was the first win for the Trojans over the NAIA's nationally ranked team this season.

DSU and BCU are 9-4 overall record this season.  The Trojans halted the Chargers' four-game winning streak.

Dakota State faces another nationally ranked team from the Great Plains Athletic Conference before Christmas break, visiting No. 15 ranked Northwestern (Iowa) on Tuesday evening.  Tip-off from the Bultman Center in Orange City, Iowa, is set for 6 p.m.

(RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 88, (22) Briar Cliff (Iowa) 83 – FINAL

• Dakota State fueled the game by shooting 7-of-10 from the field, thanks to starting the game with five consecutive baskets made.  The Trojans used six different players – Elsie Aslesen, Courtney Menning, Savannah Walsdorf, Lilli Mackley, Olivia Ritter, and Caitlin Dyer – during their 18-8 opening run, forcing the Chargers to call a timeout with four minutes, thirty-three seconds on the clock.
• Briar Cliff answered with a 5-0 coming out from the timeout, trimming DSU's led to 18-13 after Cadence Davis' 3-pointer with 2:41 to go in the first period.
• DSU led 23-18 by the end of the first quarter, highlighted by their sizzling 60 percent field goal shooting (9-of-15 field goals).  BCU shot 40 percent (8-of-20 field goals) in the first ten minutes.
• Leading 25-20 in the second quarter, the Trojans sparked a 9-0 outburst to record the biggest lead of the game.  A steal followed by a layup from Mackley gave DSU a 34-20 lead with less than eight minutes left in the second.
• At 44-34, Briar Cliff roared back by holding Dakota State scoreless in the final 2:34 of the first half.  Madelyn Deitchler capped BCSU's 10-0 scoring run to knot the game at 44-44 by halftime.
• The Chargers outscored the Trojans 26-21 in the second period.
• DSU shot 48.5 percent from the field in the first twenty minutes (16-of-33 field goals) compared to BCU 47.4 percent (18-of-38 field goals).
• Dakota State and Briar Cliff battled back and forth in the third quarter, featuring seven ties and five lead changes with the lead no bigger than three points by both teams.
• Aslesen hit a pair of free-throws as the Trojans tied the game at 66-66 by the end of the third period.
• Both teams scored 22 points in the first ten minutes of the second half. 
• The Trojans missed their first four shots and committed two turnovers during Chargers' 8-0 fourth quarter opening run.  BCU opened with a 74-66 lead with 6:55 left in the game.
• Ritter hit a free-throw to snap their scoring drought, trailing 74-67 with 6:27 remaining.
• Dakota State stormed back with a furious rally, using a 14-4 scoring surge to regain their lead.  The Trojans scored seven straight points, capped by a pair of free-throws Morgan Huber for an 81-78 lead with 3:13 remaining.
• The game was tied for the ninth time after BCU's Konner Sudmann hit a basket (assisted by Payton Slaughter) with 1:54 left.
• Sidney Fick hit a pair of free-throws followed by Walsdorf's basket to give Trojans an 85-81 with less than 40 seconds to play.
• Briar Cliff scored on the ensuing possession after Kaegan Held's jump shot, trimming DSU's lead to 85-83 with 21.2 seconds left.
• The Chargers committed a foul and sent DSU's Menning to the free-throw line, making a free-throw for 86-83 lead with 16.4 seconds remaining.
• BCU committed a turnover on the next possession as Menning stole the ball with 7.6 seconds left.  DSU called a timeout to advance the ball to the front court.
• The Chargers committed a foul with 4.7 seconds to go, sending Walsdorf to the free throw line.  She made both free throws to secure the victory by the score of 88-83 for Dakota State.
• Dakota State outscored Briar Cliff 22-9 in the final 6:27, highlighted by 14-of-18 from the free-throw line during that span.
• Walsdorf posted a double-double of 20 points and 13 rebounds, both season-highs for the Trojans.  Aslesen added 13 points and registered three blocked shots.  She grabbed nine rebounds.
• Angela Slattery scored 13 points off the bench for DSU.  She stole the ball a career-high four times.  Fick tallied 10 points, seven rebounds, two blocks, and two steals.
• Mackley had nine points and six rebounds for Dakota State.  Huber added eight points and contributed four assists.  Menning had seven points, six assists (season-high), and four steals.
• Sudmann led the Chargers with 21 points and seven assists.  Madelyn Deitchler added 20 points.  Peyton Wingert produced a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds.  She dished out five assists.
• Slaughter had 11 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals for BCU.  Held had 10 points.  Madisyn Rogan scored eight points off the bench. 
• DSU shot 44.1 percent overall from the field (26-of-59 field goals), while BCU shot 44.9i percent (31-of-69 field goals).  The Trojans drained 10 3-pointers in 25 attempts (40 percent) compared to the Chargers 7-of-19 3-pointers (36.8 percent). 
• Dakota State hit 26 free-throws in 32 attempts (81.3 percent).  Briar Cliff made 14 free-throws in 21 tries (66.7 percent).
• DSU won the rebounding battle, outrebounding BCU 45-35.  The Trojans outscored the Chargers 16-9 in second chance points.
• Dakota State outscored Briar Cliff 18-10 in points off turnovers and 31-17 in bench points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director