February 12, 2022
PHOTO GALLERY - Photos credits by Cody Welu, Karen Giles, Donald Weidler
MADISON, S.D. – Nine different Dakota State (S.D.) drained at least a 3-pointer to go along with a season-high 12 blocked shots, fueling to a 91-59 North Star Athletic Association women's basketball victory over Valley City State (N.D.) on Senior Night Saturday afternoon at DSU Fieldhouse. The victory also clinched the North Star regular-season outright title for the second straight year.
Dakota State, who is ranked No. 25 in the latest NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, won their sixth straight game and their 11th win in the last 12 games to raise their overall record to 22-7. The Trojans are 12-1 record in North Star contests. Valley City State fell to 9-14 overall record and 6-7 NSAA conference record. The Vikings are tied for fifth in the conference standings with Viterbo (Wis.) and Bellevue (Neb.).
The Trojans won their seventh straight meetings with the Vikings, the second straight year that DSU went 3-0 record versus VCSU (both teams played in the annual Dakota Clash in the last two years along with two home-and-away NSAA meetings).
Six Dakota State seniors were honored after the conclusion of the game. Their six seniors are Elsie Aslesen, Jessi Giles, McKenzie Hermanson, Ashlyn Macdonald, Cheylee Nagel, and Lexi Robson. DSU wrapped up it home regular-season schedule with a 9-2 record, however, they will play a home contest in the opening round of the NSAA postseason tournament on Feb. 22 versus Waldorf (Iowa).
The Trojans have won 30 times in the last 33 home contests at DSU Fieldhouse, including 24 victories in the last 25 games against members of the North Star conference since the 2019-20 (including non-conference and postseason games at DSU Fieldhouse).
Both teams wrap up their regular-season schedule on Friday as they play their traveling partners in NSAA action. Dakota State visits Bellevue (Neb.) with a 5:30 p.m. tip-off at Gordon Lozier Center. Valley City State returns home as they host Dickinson State (N.D.) at W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse on the same night at 5:30 p.m.
(25) Dakota State (S.D.) 91, Valley City State (N.D.) 59 – FINAL
- Hermanson ignited the game with back-to-back 3-pointers, followed by Robson's 3-point play to open a 9-0 lead for the Trojans with eight minutes and four seconds on the clock.
- Emma Nielsen drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Allie Negen) to snap the Vikings' scoring drought with 7:46 on the clock.
- Holding a 9-5 lead, Dakota State held Valley City State scoreless in a span of three-and-half minutes and sparked an 11-0 scoring run. Savannah Walsdorf made a lay-up (assisted by Macdonald) to give DSU a 20-5 lead with 3:27 to go in the first period.
- Aslesen drained a 3-pointer to end the first quarter as DSU's lead grew to 33-14. DSU shot a blazing 61.9 percent from the field (13-of-21 field goals) while holding VCSU to 35.3 percent (6-of-17 field goals).
- With DSU leading 40-24, the Vikings went on an 8-0 scoring run to trim the deficit into single digit at 40-32 after a pair of free-throws by Bayli Heap with 2:04 left before intermission.
- Giles halted the Trojans' scoring drought with a lay-up with 1:44 left, extending their lead to 42-32.
- Valley City State outscored Dakota State 18-9 in the second quarter, thanks to their 8-of-14 field goal shooting (57.1 percent). DSU was 4-of-18 field goals in the second period (22.2 percent).
The Vikings could get no closer than eight points with Ashlyn Diemert's field goal with 8:12 on the clock in the third quarter (DSU led 42-34. - Dakota State regained their double-digit lead in the third quarter as their lead grew to 59-40 with a pair of free-throws by Shaylee DeBeer with 5:03 on the clock.
- The Trojans poured in 30 points in the third period after shooting 9-of-17 from the field (52.9 percent) and hit 11-of-12 free-throws. VCSU was 7-of-20 from the field in the first ten minutes of the second half (35 percent).
- DSU never trailed for the rest of the game, outscoring the Vikings 19-10 in the final quarter. Dakota State was 50 percent from the field in the final twenty minutes (16-of-32 field goals) compared to Valley City State 32.4 percent (11-of-34 field goals).
Macdonald posted a double-double with season highs of 13 points and 11 rebounds for DSU. She also had season-highs six assists and four blocks (career-high). Aslesen scored 15 points off the bench. She pulled down eight rebounds and registered a career-high six blocks.- Giles added 11 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals for the Trojans. Robson scored nine points, grabbed five rebounds, and recorded three steals. Hermanson had six points.
- Courtney Menning and Walsdorf each had eight points for Dakota State. Angela Slattery had a season-high nine points off the bench. Morgan Huber dished our four assists and stole the ball twice. Lilli Mackley had three assists.
- Taryn Dieterle scored 18 points and collected eight rebounds off the bench for VCSU. She stole the ball three times. Diemert had 14 points.
Adriana Torres recorded seven points and five rebounds for the Vikings. Negen grabbed nine rebounds. - Dakota State shot 46.5 percent overall from the field (33-of-71) and held Valley City State to 35.4 percent (23-of-65 field goals). The Trojans hit 11-of-30 from the 3-point arc, while the Vikings were 2-of-13 3-pointers.
- DSU converted 14-of-19 free-throws. VCSU was 9-of-10 free-throws.
- The Trojans outrebounded the Vikings 43-40.
- Dakota State outscored Valley City State 42-10 in points off turnovers and 52-22 in bench points.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
