November 16, 2023

This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Nov. 7, 2023)—The Dakota State University Trojan women's basketball team (4-2 overall record, No. 16 in the NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Top 25 national poll) competes in the fourth annual Dakota Clash, featuring members of the North Star Athletic Association members in the non-conference contests.  This year's host will be held at Valley City State (N.D.) on Friday and Saturday at W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse (101 College Street SE) in Valley City, N.D.

Dakota State kicks off the two-day Dakota Clash tournament Friday evening, facing the host team Valley City State (4-2 overall record).  Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.  The Trojans conclude the month of November on Saturday afternoon, taking on No. 22 ranked Mayville State (N.D.) (4-1 overall record) in the battle of the NAIA's Top 25 nationally ranked teams at 3 p.m.  Dickinson State (N.D.) (2-3 overall record) is the fourth team in the Dakota Clash tournament, where they will take on Mayville State Friday and Valley City State on Saturday.

Dakota State opened their home schedule with an undefeated 3-0 record, cruising past in-state rival Mount Marty (S.D.) 87-63 on Nov. 8.  The Trojans survived an upset bid by Kansas Wesleyan at home on Nov. 11 by the score of 70-67.  DSU concluded their 3-game home stand on Nov. 13 with a 93-75 rout over Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in the inaugural 'Battle of the Blues', sponsored by BankWest.

Valley City State began their four-game home stand with an 89-51 victory over Trinity Bible (N.D.) on Nov. 17.  Mayville State earned a 63-52 exhibition game victory over Bemidji State (Minn.) on Nov. 13.

Up Next:  Dakota State (S.D.) resumes to action on Dec. 1-2 as they return home, hosting their home tournament.  The Trojans hosts College of the Ozarks (Mo.) on Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. and Haskell (Kan.) on Dec. 2 at 4 p.m.  Dickinson State (N.D.), the other North Star Athletic Association member, will also play in the tournament.

This Week's Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) is currently on a four-game winning streak after dropping the first two games of the season, both aaginst NAIA's Top 5 ranked teams.
+ The Trojans are playing their second preseason tournament of the season (Cattle Classic at Concordia, Neb., on Nov. 3-4, and Dakota Clash on Nov. 17-18.
+ Dakota State will face Valley City State (N.D.) and Mayville State (N.D.) twice during the North Star Athletic Association season.  This weekend's contests are counted as non-conference games in the Dakota Clash tournament.
+ The Trojans had won the last 10 meetings in the series meeting with VCSU, including a 3-0 record in last year's meetings.
+ Dakota State and Mayville State faced each other four times during the 2022-23 season.  The Comets ended DSU's 10-game winning streak in the North Star Athletic Association Women's Basketball Championship Game on Feb. 26, 2023, at the Civic Arena in Watertown, S.D.
+ After the Dakota Clash tournament, the Trojans will not return to action until after Thanksgiving break.  DSU plays in the third preseason tournament, hosting their own home tournament at DSU Fieldhouse on Dec. 1-2.
+ Saturday's contest will be the first time that Dakota State and Mayville State will be facing each other as NAIA's nationally-ranked teams this season.

Noteworthy...
DAKOTA STATE IN DAKOTA CLASH:  The Dakota Clash tournament started in 2020-21 season, held at Dakota State (S.D.).  It rotated each year, with Mayville State (N.D.) in 2021-22 season, and Presentation (S.D.) in 2022-23 season.  While Presentation closed the doors last spring, Dickinson State (N.D.) became the fourth team in this year's tournament at Valley City State (N.D.).  Dakota State is 6-0 record all-time in the Dakota Clash tournament since 2020-21, defeating both VCSU and MSU each year.

TROJANS EXTEND HOME COURT WINNINGS STREAK TO 18:  Dakota State kicked off their home schedule with an undefeated three-game home stand at DSU Fieldhouse (3-0 record).  The Trojans ballooned their home court winning streak to 18 games since the 2021-22 season.  DSU was perfect at home with a 12-0 record in the 2022-23 season, matching its undefeated home court record with the 1983-84 squad. 

DAKOTA STATE IN NORTH STAR RANKS:  According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Thursday, Dakota State ranks second in the league in scoring with 78.2 points per game.  The Trojans lead the North Star in field goals made with 161 field goals and 3-point field goals made with 59 3-pointers.  DSU Is tied with Mayville State (N.D.) in free-throw made with 88 free-throws.  Tabor Teel ranks second in the league in field goal percentage (54.5 percent), converting 18-of-33 field goals.   Angela Slattery averages 7.5 rebounds per game, which is fifth best rebounding average in the North Star Athletic Association.  Bria Wasmund ranks third in the NSAA in 3-point field goal percentage with 8-of-16 from the 3-point arc (50 percent).

DAKOTA STATE'S JUNIOR VARSITY BASKETBALL UPDATES:  The Dakota State University Trojan women's basketball junior varsity team looks for their first wins of the season, despite falling to Dordt (Iowa) on Nov. 6, Mount Marty (S.D.) on Nov. 7, and Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) on Nov. 15.  The Trojans continues their home stand on Nov. 30 versus Mount Marty to wrap up their 2023 portion of the schedule.  DSU then returns to action on Jan. 15 versus Dordt (Iowa).  Dakota State plays a total of five games during the 2024 portion of the schedule.

(16) DSU wins home opener with 87-63 rout over MMU
 Madison, S.D. (Nov. 8, 2023)—No. 16 ranked Dakota State (S.D.) shook off their slow start in their home opener at DSU Fieldhouse with in-state rival Mount Marty (S.D.).  The Trojans used an 11-0 first quarter closing run and never trailed in the game to defeat the Lancers 87-63. 

DSU trailed 11-10 in the opening quarter and scored 11 straight points to earn a 21-11 lead after the first quarter.  Dakota State used another 21-11 outburst in the second quarter, ballooning their lead to 42-22 by halftime.  The Trojans led 69-39 after three quarters.

Savannah Walsdorf led DSU with a season-high 23 points.  She also had six assists and three steals.  Lilli Mackley added 11 points and nine rebounds.  Olivia Ritter scored 10 points and pulled down seven rebounds off the bench. 

DSU shot 40.6 percent overall from the field (28-of-68 field goals) compared to MMU 39 percent (23-of-59 field goals).  The Trojans outrebounded the Lancers 43-37.

Trojans hold off KWU's upset bid at home
Madison, S.D. (Nov. 11, 2023)—(16) Dakota State (S.D.) built a 16-point halftime lead over Kansas Wesleyan at DSU Fieldhouse and ballooned to the largest lead of the game in the early third quarter.  The Coyotes stormed back within one point, but the Trojans held off their upset bid with a 70-67 victory.

DSU led 17-10 after the first ten minutes of the game.  The Trojans ignited the second quarter by making four straight baskets in their 10-0 scoring outburst.  Dakota State led 40-24 by halftime and 56-47 after three quarters.  KWU trimmed DSU's lead to 64-63 with 2:37 remaining in the game.  DSU held on to the victory by holding off KWU's late comeback, despite a missing game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Four DSU scored in double digits, packed by Angela Slattery with a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds.  Lilli Mackley scored 15 points and earned six rebounds.  Caitlin Dyer added 12 points.  Savannah Waldorf had nine points and five rebounds.

Dakota State shot 40 percent from the field (26-of-65 field goals) compared to Kansas Wesleyan 38.5 percent (25-of-65 field goals).  DSU had a slim rebounding edge over KWU 43-42.

(16) DSU wins inaugural 'Battle of the Blues'
Madison, S.D. (Nov. 13, 2023)—No. 16 ranked Dakota State (S.D.) took on rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in the inaugural 'Battle of the Blues', sponsored by BankWest, at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans never trailed in the game, cruising to a 93-75 victory over the Tigers.  The series returned for the first time since Dec. 11, 2019.

DSU fueled a 7-0 opening run ad never trailed.  The Trojans led 26-19 after the first quarter and ballooned their lead by 52-34 by halftime, thanks to their 10-0 second quarter closing run.   DSU had the biggest lead of the game at 73-45 with three minutes left to go in the third.

Five Dakota State players scored in double digits, led by Savannah Walsdorf with 22 points on her 7-of-12 field goals, including 4-of-5 from the 3-point line.  She grabbed eight rebounds, stole the ball six tims, and dished out four assists.  Angela Slattery and Cierra Watkins each scored 13 points.  Caitlin Dyer scored 12 points and contributed six assists.  Tabor Tell had a career high 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds. 

Dakota State shot 47.1 percent overall from the field (32-of-68 field goals) and drained 13 3-pointers in 30 tries.  DSU also hit 16-of-20 free-throws.  Dakota Wesleyan was 44.3 percent from the field (31-of-70 field goals and 8-of-19 3-pointers.  DSU outrebounded DWU 41-38 and outscored them 18-9 in second chance.

2023-24 Dakota State Women's Basketball Team Leaders

• Points/Points Per Game:  Savannah Walsdorf - 83 points (13.8 points per game)
• Field Goal Percentage:  Tabor Teel - 54.5 percent (18-of-33 field goals)
• 3-point Field Goal Percentage:  Bria Wasmund - 50.0 percent (8-of-16 3-point field goals)
• Free-Throw Percentage:  Cierra Watkins - 83.3 percent (10-of-12 free-throws)
• Rebounds:  Angela Slattery - 46 rebounds - (7.5 rebounds per game)
• Assists/Assists Per Game:  Savannah Walsdorf - 15 assists (3.0 assists per game)
• Steals/Steals Per Game:  Savannah Walsdorf - 18 steals (3.0 steals per game)
• Blocked Shots:  Lilli Mackley - 5 blocks (0.8 blocks per game)

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