January 14, 2023

ABERDEEN, S.D. – All thirteen (13) Dakota State players scored in the North Star Athletic Association women's basketball contest Saturday afternoon at Strode Center, hitting the century mark for the second time this season with a 103-52 road rout over Presentation (S.D.).  The Trojans won their fourth straight league game, moving in a three-way tie for first place in the NSAA standings after Mayville State (N.D.) defeated Bellevue (Neb.) 79-56 on the same day.

Dakota State, receiving votes (RV) in the latest NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, raised their overall record to 14-5 and 4-1 record in North Star contests.  Presentation dropped their eighth straight game, falling to 1-15 overall record and winless in five conference games.

The Trojans won for the 14th time in the last 16 games and stayed undefeated in the 2023 portion of the schedule (4-0 record).  DSU earned their 23rd victory in the last 27 meetings with PC, including eight straight wins in the series meeting.

Dakota State stays on the road next weekend as they wrap up their first half portion of the North Star schedule.  The Trojans pay a visit to R.W. Beggs Gymnasium Friday evening versus Viterbo (Wis.) and Hanson Fieldhouse next Saturday versus Waldorf (Iowa).

(RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 103, Presentation (S.D.) 52 – FINAL

• Dakota State grabbed the first lead of the game at 2-0 as Courtney Menning made a basket with nine minutes, eleven seconds on the clock.
• Presentation answered by scoring the next five points to earn a lead briefly at 5-2, capped by Mo Peters' basket with 7:23 to go in the first quarter.
• Tied at 7-7, the Trojans went on a 17-5 closing run in the final 6:10 of the first quarter.  Sidney Fick closed the first period with a jump shot, ballooning DSU's lead to 24-12.
• The Trojans shot 50 percent from the field in the first ten minutes of the game (9-of-18 field goals) and held the Saints to 31.3 percent (5-of-16 field goals).
• DSU continued its scoring run as Fick kicked off the second period with a 3-pionter (assisted by Caitlin Dyer) for 27-12 lead with 9:53 on the clock.
• The Trojans maintained their double digit lead for the rest of the game.  Lilli Mackley drained a 3-pointer to close the second period with a 52-26 lead.
• Dakota State shot a sizzling 58.8 percent from the field in the second quarter, hitting 10 baskets in 17 tries.  Presentation was held to 22.2 percent (2-of-9 field goals), however, went 9-of-10 from the free-throw line.
• Elsie Aslesen and Dyer each scored seven points, sparking DSU's 25-17 scoring run over PC in the third period.  DSU led 77-42 after three quarters.
• The Trojans surpassed the century point as Kristine Biniek hit a 3-pointer with 2:17 remaining, exploding for a 101-49 lead.
• Dakota State outscored Presentation 26-10 in the final quarter.  The Saints were held to 2-of-12 from the field (16.7 percent).
• Five Trojans scored in double digits, led by Aslesen with 16 points on her 6-of-7 field goals.  She also had four rebounds and a block.  Savannah Walsdorf added 13 points and five rebounds. 
• Fick had 12 points and five rebounds off the bench for DSU.  Olivia Ritter and Angela Slattery each tallied 10 points.  Slattery grabbed seven rebounds.  Dyer had nine points and two assists.  Biniek scored a season-high eight points.  Menning had seven points and stole the ball three times.
• Mackley had seven rebounds for Dakota State.  Mackley, Morgan Huber, Fick, Tabor Teel, Biniek, and Slattery each stole the ball twice.
• Emma Ogitchida led the Saints with 14 points and five rebounds.  Kala Carman added nine points and four rebounds.  Evelyn Abundes and Grace Lupumba each had seven points.
• Dakota State shot 34-of-69 overall from the field (49.3 percent) and held Presentation to 30.2 percent (16-of-53 field goals).  The Trojans tied a season-high 13 3-pointers in 34 tries (38.2 percent).  PC was 1-of-8 from the 3-point arc.
• DSU converted 20-of-25 free-throws (80 percent).  The Saints were 19-of-24 from the free-throw line.
• The Trojans outrebounded the Saints 34-31. 
• Dakota State stole the ball 18 times compared to Presentation five steals. 
• DSU outscored PC 61-19 in bench points and 27-10 points off turnovers.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director