December 2, 2023

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) fell behind by the score of 7-0 to start the game, but shook off their slow start by outscoring Haskell (Kan.) 24-6 for the rest of the first period and never trailed for a 91-47 victory Saturday afternoon at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans finished their home tournament undefeated with a 2-0 record, ballooning their home court winning streak to 20 games since the 2021-22 season.

Dakota State, ranked No. 15 in the latest NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, extended their winning streak to eight games to raise their overall record to 8-2.  Haskell fell to 2-9 overall record.

The Trojans averaged 95.0 points per game in the two-day tournament, scoring at least 90 points for the fifth time this season (fourth time in the last five games).

The North Star Athletic Association teams finished the two-day tournament with a 3-1 record (Continental Athletic Conference went 1-3 record).  College of the Ozarks (Mo.) held on to defeat Dickinson State (N.D.) 83-75 in overtime thriller in the first game Saturday.

Dakota State takes a week off to prepare for their finals and returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 13.  The Trojans travel to rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) for their second meeting of the season.  The game is set to take place at the Corn Palace in Mitchell with a 6 p.m. tip-off.

#15 Dakota State (S.D.) 91, Haskell (Kan.) 47 – FINAL

The Indians opened the game by taking advantage of Trojans' miscues, opening a seven-point lead.  Mahpiya Irving drained a 3-pointer to give Haskell a 7-0 lead with seven minutes and eighteen seconds to go in the first period.

Tabor Teel snapped DSU's scoring drought with a 3-pointer (assisted by Caitlin Dyer), sparking a 13-0 outburst.  Morgan Huber hit a pair of free-throws as the Trojans led 13-7 with less than four minutes to go in the first.

Dakota State continued their scoring surge with a 11-1 run, increasing their lead to 24-10 after a 3-pointer by Bria Wasmund (assisted by Savannah Walsdorf) with 1:05 to go in the first quarter.

Irving hit a half court shot at the buzzer as the Indians trimmed the Trojans' lead to 24-13. 

DSU shot 50 percent in the first ten minutes (7-of-14 field goals) and limited HNU to 29.4 percent (5-of-17 field goals).

Leading 34-20, Dakota State went on a 14-2 scoring tear to widen their lead to 48-22 after a basket by Olivia Ritter with 2:49 remaining before halftime.

The Trojans outscored the Indians 28-13 in the second quarter, grabbing a 52-26 halftime lead, thanks to a blazing 55.9 percent shooting from the field in the first half (19-of-34 field goals).  Haskell shot 36.7 percent from the field in the first twenty minutes (11-of-30 field goals). 

Both teams struggled offensively in the third quarter, with DSU outscoring HNU 12-9.  Dakota State led as many as 32 points at 64-32 after a 3-pointer by Lilli Mackley (assisted by Huber) with 3:22 to go.

Dakota State led 64-35 by the end of the third quarter.  The Trojans shot 3-of-12 from the field (25 percent), while the Indians were held to 16.7 percent (3-of-18 field goals). 

DSU exploded for a 17-2 outburst to start the fourth quarter, leading 81-37 with 6:24 to go in the game after a layup by Huber (assisted by Walsdorf).

The Trojans posted the biggest lead of the game at 91-44 after a 3-pointer by Molli Thornton (assisted by Brooke GundersON0 with less than 40 seconds remaining.

DSU outscored HNU 27-12 in the final quarter, highlighted by a sizzling 64.7 percent field goal shooting (11-of-17 field goals) and hit 4-of-8 from the 3-point arc. 

Thirteen players scored in the game and made at least one basket in the game for DSU's balanced scoring attack.  Dyer scored a career-high 17 points on her 6-of-9 field goals, including 5-of-7 from the 3-point line (career-high in 3-point field goals made).  She also had three rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

Mackley added 13 points, four assists, three steals, and three rebounds for the Trojans.  Walsdorf produced a double-double of 10 points and pulled down a season-high 13 rebounds.  She also stole the ball five times.  Huber scored eight points and contributed four assists.

Ritter tallied nine points and five rebounds off the bench for Dakota State.  Teel had seven points, seven rebounds, and registered a career-high four blocks.  Miakken Vincent had seven points and three rebounds.  Cierra Watkins and Wasmund each had five points. 

Irving led the Indians with 11 points.  Tea Murray added eight points off the bench.  Wakiyan Irving grabbed six rebounds. 

Dakota State shot 52.4 percent overall from the field (33-of-63 field goals), including 15-of-37 from the 3-point line (40.5 percent).  Haskell was 31.1 percent from the field (19-of-61 field goals) and 5-of-22 3-pointers.

DSU converted 10-of-17 free-throws (58.8 percent), while HNU was 4-of-6 free-throws (66.7 percent).

The Trojans outrebounded the Indians 45-31, leading DSU in 19-3 second chance points over HNU.

Dakota State outscored Haskell 14-4 in fast break points, 30-15 in points off turnovers, 36-20 inside the paint, and 41-25 in bench points.