December 3, 2022

BELLEVUE, Neb. – Dakota State (S.D.) trailed as many as 18 points in the late first half and rallied back to tie the game after three quarters with Bellevue (Neb.) in the North Star Athletic Association women's basketball opener Saturday afternoon at Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.  The Trojans were unable to complete their furious comeback bid, falling short 78-76 after BU Laura Jurek made a shot when the time expired.

Dakota State, receiving votes in the latest NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, saw their eight-game winning streak come to an end and fell to 8-4 overall record.  Their eight-game winning streak tied for the eighth best winning streak in DSU women's basketball record book with the 1999-2000 squad.  Bellevue lifted their overall record to 6-4, recording their fifth straight victory.

DSU prepares for the Finals week in the next two weeks and returns to action on Sunday, Dec. 18 as they host Briar Cliff (Iowa) in a non-conference action.  Tip-off from the DSU Fieldhouse is set for 3 p.m., with the Trojan Athletics Club Christmas Party scheduled.

Bellevue (Neb.) 78, (RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 76 – FINAL

• Three different Bellevue scorers (Asha Scott, Ashtyn Arnold, and Miranda Hennings) sparked a 7-0 scoring run in the first 1 minute, 30 seconds of the game.
• Savannah Walsdorf ended DSU's scoring run with 8:10 on the clock with a layup (DSU trailed 8-2).
• Jurek drained a 3-pointer to give the Bruins their first double digit lead of the game at 12-2 with 7:28 on the clock.
• Bellevue ballooned their lead to 25-9 with 2:16 left in the first quarter after Faith Ross' 3-pointer. 
• Sidney Fick hit a pair of free-throws as the Trojans closed the first period, trailing 28-14.
• The Bruins shot 11-of-22 from the field in the first ten minutes of the game.  The Trojans were held to 5-of-12 from the field.
• BU maintained their double-digit lead in the second quarter, posting the biggest lead of the game at 43-25 with 3:19 to go before halftime after Scott's jump shot.
• Elsie Aslesen made a layup with less than a minute remaining in the second period, trailing 47-32 by halftime.
• The Bruins outscored the Trojans 19-18 in the final ten minutes of the first half.  DSU shot 7-of-12 from the field, while BU was 7-of-17 from the field.
• Trailing 51-38, Dakota State clawed their way back by closing the third quarter with an 18-4 furious comeback to tie the game.  Angela Slattery made a free-throw as DSU knotted the game at 56-56.
• DSU outscored BU 24-9 in the third quarter, thanks to their 8-of-15 field goals (53.3 percent) and 8-of-14 free-throws.  The Bruin were held to 3-of-12 field goals.
• Aslesen drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Courtney Menning) as Dakota State opened the fourth quarter with their first lead of the game at 59-56 with 9:41 left.  Aslesen added another 3-pointer to stretch their lead to 62-56 with 8:50 remaining.
• With DSU leading 66-62, Ross answered with back-to-back baskets as the Bruins tied the game at 66-66 with 5:14 to go.
• Dakota State went on a 6-0 scoring run, fueled by Caitlin Dyer's layup followed by a pair of free-throws from Fick and Walsdorf for a 72-66 lead with 4:21 remaining.
• Hennings hit a 3-pointer as the Bruins rallied back to tie the game at 74-74 with two minutes left.
• Aslesen answered with a layup, assisted by Menning, to regain their lead at 1:36 left.
• After a pair of scoreless possessions, Scott made a basket with less than 30 seconds remaining to tie the game at 76-76.
• Dakota State committed a turnover on the ensuing possession with less than five seconds left, where BU's Arnold stole the ball.  Jurek hit the game-winning basket with no time left, securing the victory for Bellevue.
• BU outscored DSU 22-20 in a high scoring fourth quarter.  The Trojans were 5-of-10 from the field and made all eight free-throws.  The Bruins shot 8-of-17 from the field and 3-of-3 at the free-throw line. 
• Four Dakota State starters scored in double digits, paced by Aslesen with a game-high 21 points on her 7-of-10 field goals, 3-of-4 3-pointers, and 4-of-6 at the free-throw line.  She also grabbed six rebounds and registered four blocked shots.
• Fick added 12 points for DSU.  Walsdorf tallied 11 points, four rebounds, and three steals.  Olivia Ritter had 10 points and three rebounds.  Menning scored six points, pulled down six rebounds, and dished out four assists. 
• Slattery had five points and five rebounds off the bench for the Trojans.  She also stole the ball four times.
• All five Bellevue starters scored in double digits, led by Hennings with 18 points on her 7-of-11 field goals and 4-of-8 3-pointers.  Scott added 16 points.  Ross scored 14 points and tallied four rebounds.
• Arnold recorded 12 points and four rebounds for BU.  Jurek had 11 points, nine rebounds, and contributed five assists. 
• Dakota State shot 51 percent overall from the field (25-of-49 field goals) and 6-of-18 from the 3-point arc.  Bellevue was 42.6 percent from the field (29-of-68 field goals) and 10-of-24 3-pointers.
• The Trojans hit 20-of-27 free-throws (74.1 percent) compared to the Bruins 10-of-14 free-throws (71.4 percent).
• Both teams pulled down 34 rebounds.
• The Bruins outscored the Trojans 31-16 in points off turnovers and 18-8 in second chance points.   

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director