December 30, 2022

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Morningside (Iowa) pulled away past (RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 81-67 Friday evening at RVSC-Allee Gymnasium, thanks to their 14-2 closing run in the final 4:50 of the game.  The Mustangs led as many as 14 points in the second half and held off the Trojans' second half comeback.  It was the final non-conference contest of the season for both teams before they return to full action of conference play for the next two months.

Dakota State, receiving votes in the latest NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, fell to 10-5 overall record.  Morningside, a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference, won their fourth straight game (and their third straight win over North Star Athletic Association foe) lifted their overall record to 8-5. 

Both teams qualified for the NAIA National Tournament last season, with the Mustangs advancing to the national quarterfinal round and the Trojans advancing to the Round of 32.

Dakota State returns home as they prepare for a busy North Star's action.  DSU hosts Valley City State (N.D.) next Friday at 5:30 p.m., followed by Dickinson State (N.D.) next Saturday at 3 p.m.  Both games will be held at DSU Fieldhouse.

Morningside (Iowa) 81, (RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 67 – FINAL

• Dakota State and Morningside struggled offensively in the first five minutes of the game, going through four lead changes. 
• Sidney Fick made a layup (assisted by Olivia Ritter) to give DSU a 6-5 lead with 6:56 to go.
• Morningside went on an 11-0 scoring outburst to open a 16-6 lead with 3:22 to go in the first period, highlighted by McKenna Sims' back-to-back baskets.
• Angela Slattery snapped DSU's scoring drought with a layup with 2:41 on the clock, trailing 16-8.
• The Mustangs held on to a 20-16 lead after the first quarter.  MU shot 52.9 percent from the field (9-of-17 field goals) compared to DSU 44.4 percent (4-of-9 field goals).
• Dakota State kicked off the second period by using a 9-2 scoring run to regain their lead to 25-22, capped by Savannah Walsdorf's 3-point play with 6:33 on the clock.
• Lilli Mackley drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Courtney Menning) to give the Trojans a 30-28 lead with 4:23 left in the second quarter.
• Morningside held Dakota State scoreless for the rest of the second quarter, closing with a 10-0 run in the final 2:47 to earn a 38-30 halftime lead.
• Both teams struggled offensively from the field in the second period, with DSU shooting 35.3 percent (6-of-17 field goals) and MU shooting 38.1 percent (8-of-21 field goals).
• Menning drained a 3-pointer to start the third quarter, ending their scoring drought.  Dakota State trailed 38-33 with 9:50 on the clock.
• The Mustangs maintained their lead in the third quarter, ballooning to the biggest lead of the game at 57-43 after Ella Wragge's 3-pointer (assisted by Alexis Spier) with 3:52 to go in the third.
• The Trojans answered with a 10-0 scoring run, sparked Elsie Aslesen's layup followed by Menning's 3-pointer.  Walsdorf added three free-throws, while Aslesen capped the scoring run with a pair of free-throws as DSU trimmed MU's lead to 57-53 with less than two minutes to go in the third.
• Mackley closed the third quarter with a layup (assisted by Sidney Fick) as Dakota State trailed 59-57.
• DSU outscored MU 27-21 in the third period, thanks to their sizzling 72.7 percent field goal shooting (8-of-11 field goals) and hit 8-of-9 free-throws.  The Mustangs were 7-of-12 from the field (58.3 percent), including 4-of-6 from the 3-point line, and hit 3-of-4 free-throws.
• Morningside started the fourth quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers by Spier to widen their lead to 65-57 with 8:41 remaining.
• Menning answered with a 3-pointer (assisted by Morgan Huber) as DSU trimmed their deficit to 65-60 with 7:48 left in the game.
• The Trojans continued its scoring run as Aslesen hit back-to-back baskets to cut Morningside's lead to 65-64 with 6:33 remaining.
• Sims ended MU's scoring drought with a layup with 5:25 on the clock, increasing their lead to 67-64.
• Mackley added a free-throw as DSU trailed 67-65 with 5:17 left.
• Leading 71-67, Morningside held Dakota State scoreless in the final 2:48 of the game to secure the victory (MU closed the game with a 10-0 run).
• The Mustangs outscored the Trojans 22-10 in the fourth quarter.  Morningside shot 53.3 percent in the final ten minutes (8-of-15 field goals), including 3-of-5 from the 3-point line.  DSU was held to 33.3 percent (4-of-12 field goals).
• Four players scored in double digits, led by Menning with 14 points for Dakota State.  She also dished out four assists and stole the ball twice. 
• Walsdorf, Aslesen, and Mackley each scored 12 points for the Trojans.  Walsdorf had seven rebounds, while Aslesen had six rebounds and two blocks.  Mackley contributed four assists and stole the ball twice.
• Fick tallied six points, two assists, two rebounds, two blocks, and three steals off the bench for DSU.  Slattery pulled down seven rebounds off the bench.
• Spier poured in 24 points for Morningside.  She was 8-of-16 from the field, including 6-of-13 from the 3-point line.  She stole the ball three times.  Sims added 18 points and four steals. 
• Olivia Larsen produced a game-high nine assists and scored eight points for the Mustangs.  Chloe Lofstrom had eight points and seven rebounds.
• Morningside shot 49.2 percent overall from the field (32-of-65 field goals) compared to Dakota State 44.9 percent (22-of-49 field goals).
• The Mustangs drained 11 3-pointers in 23 attempts (47.8 percent), while the Trojans were 5-of-17 from the 3-point arc (29.4 percent).
• DSU hit 18-of-22 from the free-throw line.  MU was 6-of-9 free-throws.
• Both teams pulled down 33 rebounds in the game.
• Morningside outscored Dakota State 28-16 in points off turnovers and 10-4 in second chance points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports information Director