February 5, 2022

MAYVILLE, N.D. – Savannah Walsdorf surpassed her 1,000-point career milestone late in the fourth quarter to fuel No. 24 ranked Dakota State's (S.D.) second-half surge past Mayville State (N.D.) 86-77 in the battle of the top two teams in the North Star Athletic Association women's basketball contest.  The Trojans won for the second time this season at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse (defeated the Comets 82-76 in the annual Dakota Clash earlier this season).

Despite trailing as many as 12 points in the early third quarter, the Trojans outscored the Comets 53-34 in the final twenty minutes of the game.  DSU completed its NSAA season series with MSU, inching closer clinch their second straight regular-season league title.  The Trojans wrapped up their NSAA four-game road stretch with a 4-0 record.  DSU earned its seventh straight victory in the series meeting with MSU.

Dakota State hit their 20th victory of the season after winning for the ninth time in the last ten games, raising their overall record to 20-7 and 10-1 NSAA conference record.  Mayville State remains in second place in the conference standings with 16-6 overall record and 8-3 NSAA conference record.

The Trojans return home next weekend as they play their final two regular-season contests at DSU Fieldhouse.  Dakota State hosts Dickinson State (N.D.) Friday at 5:30 p.m., followed by another NSAA contest versus Valley City State (N.D.) next Saturday at 3 p.m. (Senior Night).

(24) Dakota State (S.D.) 86, Mayville State (N.D.) 77 – FINAL

• Jessi Giles scored eight points of the team's 13 points to open an eight-point lead.  Shaylee DeBeer capped with a 3-pointer to give DSU 13-5 lead with six minutes and thirty-six seconds on the clock in the first period.
• The Trojans extended their lead to 16-7 with 4:48 on the clock after Courtney Menning scored three straight points.
• Mayville State stormed back with a 12-2 outburst to overtake a 19-18 lead by the end of the first quarter, capped by Jordan Zrust's lay-up with less than 50 seconds left. 
• DSU was 7-of-15 from the field and 2-of-5 free-throws in the first ten minutes of the game.  MSU shot 6-of-12 from the field and went perfect 7-of-7 from the free-throw line.
• The Comets maintained its lead throughout the second period, outscoring the Trojans 24-15.  Erin Walcker closed the first half with a 3-pointer to give MSU a 43-33 halftime advantage.
• Dakota State was 5-of-15 from the field and 4-of-6 free-throws in the second quarter, while Mayville State hit 7-of-15 field goals and 7-8 free-throws.
• Zrust made a layup to give the Comets its biggest lead of the game at 45-33 with 9:20 to go in the third.
• Elsie Aslesen scored the next three points followed by Angela Slattery's four points to spark DSU's 7-0 scoring run, trailing 45-40 with 8:34 left in the third period.
• Trailing 57-53, Giles made a layup followed by Lexi Robson's 3-pointer as the Trojans regained their lead at 58-57 with 2:24 on the clock in the third.
• Kylee Heurung completed a 3-point play as the Comets earned a 62-60 lead by the end of the third quarter.
• Dakota State outscored Mayville State 27-19 in the third, thanks to their 9-of-17 field goals including 3-of-4 3-pointers and 6-of-8 free-throws.  MSU was 7-of-17 from the field and 4-of-6 from the free-throw line.
• Down 66-63, the Trojans stormed back by holding the Comets scoreless for three-plus minutes.  DSU propelled with a monstrous 11-0 scoring run to open a 74-66 lead after Savannah Walsdorf's layup with 5:17 left.
• The Comets ended its scoring drought with Danneka Voegeli's layup with 4:50 remaining (DSU led 74-68).
• Walsdorf achieved a milestone at Dakota State, surpassing 1,000 career points as DSU stretched its lead to 81-72 with 2:12 left.
• The Comets could get no closer than seven points for the rest of the game, securing the victory for the Trojans. 
• DSU outscored MSU 26-15 in the final ten minutes of the game.  The Trojans shot 9-of-16 from the field, including perfect 4-of-4 from the 3-point line.  The Comets were held to 5-of-16 field goals (31.3 percent).
• Aslesen poured in a season-high 20 points on her 8-of-14 field goals for DSU.  She also pulled down eight rebounds and registered three blocks.  Giles added 18 points on her 6-of-9 field goals, 3-of-4 3-pointers, and 3-of-3 free-throws.  She also had three steals and two assists.
• Walsdorf posted a double-double of 12 points and collected 11 rebounds for the Trojans.  Slattery scored 12 points off the bench, where she was perfect 3-of-3 from the 3-point arc (4-of-6 field goals).  She stole the ball three times. 
• Robson contributed six assists and five rebounds for Dakota State.  DeBeer added four assists.
• Heurung led the Comets with 21 points on her 6-of-11 field goals and 8-of-10 free-throws.  Walcker added 13 points and two blocks.  Voegeli scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds off the bench.
• Zrust tallied 12 points and six rebounds for MSU.  Mackenzie Hughes produced three assists.
• Dakota State shot 47.6 percent overall from the field (30-of-63 field goals) compared to Mayville State 41.7 percent (25-of-60 field goals).  The Trojans drained 10 3-pointers in 21 attempts and held the Comets to 4-of-19 3-pointers.
• MSU converted 23-of-28 free-throws (82.1 percent).  DSU was 16-of-26 from the free-throw line (61.5 percent). 
• Dakota State outrebounded Mayville State 46-34. 

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director