January 13, 2023

MAYVILLE, N.D. – (RV) Dakota State (S.D.) survived an overtime battle with Mayville State (N.D.) in the North Star Athletic Association women's basketball action Friday evening at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse.  Despite leading by five points in less than five seconds, the Trojans could not hold on to their lead as Mayville State scored five straight points to force overtime.  DSU held on to defeat MSU 58-56 after the Comets missed a potential game-winning 3-point shot as the overtime period ended.

Dakota State, receiving votes (RV) in the latest NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, raised their overall record to 13-5.  The victory also gave head coach David Moe his 100th win at DSU.  Mayville State fell to 11-4 overall record. 

The Trojans handed the Comets their first North Star setback of the season, where both teams are 3-1 record in the league.  It was also DSU's ninth straight victory in the series meeting with MSU.

Dakota State continues their North Star conference road action Saturday afternoon, traveling to Strode Center in Aberdeen, S.D. to take on Presentation (S.D.).  Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.  Mayville State takes on the NSAA's conference lone leader Bellevue (Neb.) on the same day at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse at 3 p.m.

(RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 58, Mayville State (N.D.) 56 – FINAL/OT

• After Elsie Aslesen drained a 3-pointer to kick off the game for DSU's 3-0 lead, Mayville State held the Trojans scoreless for six-plus minutes. 
• The Comets scored 11 straight points for an 11-3 lead, capped by CJ Decker's basket with 3:50 to go in the first quarter.
• Dakota State ended its scoring drought with a basket by Lilli Mackley with 3:28 left in the first, trailing 11-5.
• MSU led 16-9 after the first quarter.  The Comets shot 46.7 percent from the first in the first ten minutes of the game (7-of-15 field goals) and held the Trojans to 27.3 percent (3-of-11 field goals).
• Behind 20-13, Dakota State went on a 6-0 scoring run highlighted by back-to-back baskets by Savannah Walsdorf to trim MSU's lead to 20-19 with 3:45 to go in the second.
• Mackley closed the second quarter with a 3-pionter as the Trojans trailed 25-24.
• DSU outscored MSU 15-9 in the second period after shooting 7-of-16 from the field (43.8 percent).  The Comets were held to 26.7 percent (4-of-15 field goals).
• Dakota State shut down Mayville State in the first five-and-half minutes of the third quarter.  The Trojans used a 6-0 scoring run to take a 30-25 lead after a pair of free-throws by Aslesen.
• Leading 32-29, DSU closed the third quarter with a 4-0 run to widen their lead to 36-29 after Sidney Fick's basket. 
• The Trojans outscored the Comets 12-4 in the third, where both teams struggled offensively.  DSU shot 28.6 percent from the field (4-of-14 field goals) and held MSU to two baskets in 14 attempts (14.3 percent).
• DSU continued its scoring surge, extending its scoring run to 20-6 into the fourth quarter.  A steal by Morgan Huber and dished an assist to Courtney Menning for a layup, giving the Trojans its biggest lead of the game at 44-31 with 6:23 left.
• Mayville State stormed back to knot the game at 44-44 after scoring 13 straight points, capped by a pair of free-throws by Jordan Zrust with 1:15 remaining.
• Huber ended its scoring run with a 3-pionter (assisted by Angela Slattery), regaining their lead to 47-44 with 1:07 to go.
• Menning added a free-throw with less than 20 seconds to go, extending DSU's lead to 48-44.  After a missed scoring opportunity for the Comets, the Trojans regained possession with less than five seconds to go.
• Mackley added a free-throw to balloon Dakota State's lead to 49-44 with less than four seconds to go.
• A timeout called by the Comets moved the ball to the front court.  Erin Walcker drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Mackenzie Hughes) with less than three seconds to go as MSU trailed 49-47.
• The Comets committed a foul to send Fick to the free-throw line with two seconds to go.  Fick made a free-throw to put DSU up 50-47.
• Another timeout called by MSU moved the ball to the front court.  Jes Mertens drained a 3-pointer as the time expired as the Comets forced the game into overtime with the score tied at 50-50.
• Mayville State outscored Dakota State 21-14 in the fourth quarter. 
• The Comets kicked off the overtime period with a layup by Zrust for 52-50 lead with 3:12 to go.
• Slattery hit a 3-pointer on the next possession as the Trojans regained their lead to 53-52 with 2:42 on the clock.
• Aslesen added a pair of free-throws with 2:12 left, widening DSU's lead to 55-52.
• Mertens hit a pair of free-throws as the Comets could get no closer than one point at 57-56 with less than a minute to go.
• Slattery hit a free-throw with a second left to put DSU up 58-56.
• The Comets missed a 3-pointer as the overtime period expired.
• Dakota State outscored Mayville State 8-6 in extra period.
• Aslesen posted a double-double of 11 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for DSU.  She had four blocks.  Fick added 11 points, five rebounds, and three blocks off the bench.
• Walsdorf added seven points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Dakota State.  Slattery tallied seven points and seven rebounds.  Menning had six points and two assists.  Mackley had six points, four assists, and three steals.  Huber dished out three assists and recorded four rebounds for the Trojans. 
• Zrust had a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Comets.  She had two steals.  Mackenzie Hughes had 12 points and three assists.  Walcker tallied 10 points.
• Mertens registered nine points, eight rebounds, five steals, and two assists for MSU.
• Dakota State shot 33.3 percent overall from the field (20-of-60 field goals) and held Mayville state to 30.2 percent (19-of-63 field goals).  DSU was 7-of-28 3-pointers compared to MSU 6-of-23 3-pointers.
• The Comets converted 12-of-14 free-throws (85.7 percent) compared to the Trojans 11-of-16 free-throws (68.8 percent).
• DSU had 20 more rebounds than MSU (52-32).  The Trojans registered eight blocked shots compared to the Comets one block.
• Dakota State outscored Mayville State 25-10 in bench points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director