December 15, 2023

MADISON, S.D. – Northwestern (Iowa) of the Great Plains Athletic Conference jumped to a 34-24 halftime over No. 13 ranked Dakota State (S.D.) in the women's basketball contest Friday evening at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Red Raiders held off the Trojans by the score of 89-77, despite a high scoring affair in the final twenty minutes of the game.

The Trojans' 20-game home court winning streak came to an end, falling to 8-4 overall record.  Northwestern, receiving votes in the latest NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, improved their overall record to 9-3.

DSU looks to bounce back in the winning column Monday evening as they host another GPAC foe, Morningside (Iowa).  Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.

(RV) Northwestern (Iowa) 89, #13 Dakota State (S.D.) 77 – FINAL

Dakota State kicked off the game by scoring five straight points, ignited by a layup by Cailtin Dyer followed by a 3-pointer by Savanna Walsdorf for a 5-0 lead with eight minutes, thirty-four seconds on the clock.

The Trojans maintained their lead for five-plus minutes, holding a 12-8 lead after Morgan Huber's free-throw.

Northwestern closed the first quarter with a 12-2 outburst in the final 4:26. Hali Anderson drained a 3-pointer when the first period ended, giving the Red Raiders a 20-14 lead.

NWIA was 9-of-19 field goals (47.4 percent) in the first ten minutes compared to DSU 6-of-13 field goals (46.2 percent).

Dakota State kicked off the second quarter with a 6-0 run from three different scorers – Tabor Teel, Walsdorf, and Miakken Vincent.  Vincent made a basket inside the paint as DSU tied the game at 20-20 with 7:18 on the clock.

Northwestern answered with a 6-0 run to take a 26-20 lead after a 3-pointer by Anderson with 5:39 left before halftime.

Kaydin Davis drained a 3-pointer to give the Red Raiders a 34-24 halftime lead.  NWIA shot 45.2 percent from the field in the first half (14-of-31 field goals) compared to DSU 35.7 percent (10-of-28 field goals).

Dakota State roared back to start the third quarter, thanks to their five consecutive baskets from three players.  Teel kicked off the quarter with a layup, followed by five straight points each by Angela Slattery and Walsdorf. 

Walsdorf hit a 3-pointer to knot the game at 36-36 with 7:30 to go in the third quarter for the Trojans.

Coming out of the timeout, the Red Raiders went on a 6-0 scoring tear capped by a basket by Anderson for NWIA 42-36 lead with six minutes to go in the third.

Holding a 52-48 lead, Northwestern went on a 7-0 outburst to lead 59-48 with 1:34 on the clock.  Maddie Jones ended the quarter to give the Red Raiders 61-51 lead.

Both teams scored 27 points in a high scoring affair third quarter.  DSU shot 11-of-18 field goals (61.1 percent), while NWIA shot 11-of-20 field goals (55 percent).

Dakota State used a 10-4 fourth quarter opening run to trim NWIA's lead to 65-61 with less than eight minutes to go, capped by a layup by Teel.  The Trojans kicked off the fourth quarter with four straight baskets, two baskets each by Teel and Slattery (3-pointer and 2-point field goal each).

Northwestern ballooned their lead to 74-63 after a 9-2 scoring run after a basket by Anderson with 6:04 left.

The Trojans could get no closer than six points after a 3-pointer by Morgan Huber (assisted by Cierra Watkins), trailing 78-72 with 3:21 remaining.

NWIA outscored DSU 28-26 in the final quarter.  The Red Raiders shot 9-of-14 field goals (64.3 percent) and hit 10-of-13 free-throws in the final ten minutes compared to the Trojans 10-of-19 field goals (52.6 percent) and converted 2-of-3 free-throws.

Walsdorf paced DSU with 18 points (7-of-9 field goals and 3-of-3 3-pointers) and five rebounds.  Teel posted a double-double of 12 points and pulled down a career-high 13 rebounds.  She also dished out a career-high four assists.  Slattery tallied 17 points (tied career-high for the third time) and grabbed seven rebounds.

Vincent scored a season-high eight points off the bench for the Trojans.  Bria Wasmund and Watkins each scored six points.  Huber had six points and three steals.  Slattery and Watkins each had three assists.

Emily TerWeed posted a double-double of 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Red Raiders.  Anderson tallied 19 points and four assists.  Jones had 17 points, six assists, five rebounds, and three steals. 

Kaydin Davis stole the ball four times for Northwestern.  Kylie Foss and Lexie Van Kekerix each added three steals.  Foss had eight points.

Northwestern shot 52.3 percent from the field (34-of-65 field goals) compared to Dakota State 47.7 percent (31-of-65 field goals).  The Trojans hit 10-of-30 3-pointers, while the Red Raiders made 7-of-14 3-pointers.

NWIA converted 14-of-19 free-throws compared to DSU 5-of-8 free-throws.

The Trojans outrebounded the Red Raiders 37-34.  NWIA outscored DSU 13-5 in second-chance points.