December 29, 2023

CHICAGO, Ill. – NAIA's nationally-ranked No. 13 Dakota State (S.D.) drained 18 3-pointers Friday evening, earning their 10^th victory of the season in a 78-69 non-conference women's basketball victory over Saint Xavier (Ill.) at Shannon Center.  It was the fifth straight season that the Trojans earned double digits victories and their sixth time in the last seven seasons.

Dakota State raised their overall record to 10-4 and improved their all-time series record to 2-0 with the Cougars.  Saint Xavier, a member of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference, fell to 5-6 overall record.

DSU continues their seven-game road trip Saturday afternoon as they visit another CCAC opponent.  The Trojans visit Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) to close out the 2023 portion of the schedule.  Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. at McHie Arena in Bourbonnais, Ill.

(13) Dakota State (S.D.) 78, Saint Xavier (Ill.) 69 – FINAL

Both teams traded 3-pointers to kick off the game, starting with Jaidn Green for Saint Xavier followed by Caitlin Dyer for Dakota State.  The game was knotted at 3-3 after one minute into the game.

Trailing 5-3, the Trojans used a 6-0 scoring run capped by a layup by Savannah Walsdorf for a 9-5 lead.  The Cougars were forced to burn their first timeout of the game with 7:22 to go in the first period.

USX came out of the timeout with a 5-0 run to overtake a 10-9 lead after Eleanor Harris' layup with 5:07 left in the first. 

Dyer scored the next eight points for Dakota State, highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers for 17-10 lead with 3:04 left in the first period.

Walsdorf closed the first quarter with a 3-pointer (assisted by Bria Wasmund) as the Trojans grabbed a 22-16 lead.  Dakota State fueled the first period with 8-of-15 field goal shooting (53.3 percent), including 5-of-11 from the 3-point line.  Saint Xavier was held to 6-of-16 field goals (37.5 percent) and 1-of-4 from the 3-point line.

After struggling to score in the first minute of the second quarter, DSU went on a 4-0 run to earn the first double digit lead of the game.  Dyer hit a layup with 7:39 on the clock to balloon the Trojans' lead to 26-16.

The Trojans maintained their lead between six- and nine-points in the second period before the Cougars trimmed their lead down to three points.  Aaliyahna Derrell drained a 3-pointer as USX trimmed DSU's lead to 31-28 with 1:16 to go before halftime.

Tabor Teel closed the first half with a 3-point play, giving the Trojans a 37-31 halftime lead.

Both teams scored 15 points in the second quarter.  DSU shot 6-of-15 from the field (40 percent) and limited USX to 26.3 percent (5-of-19 field goals), with all five field goals coming from the 3-point line.

Dakota State regained their double-digit lead in the early third quarter.  Lilli Mackley drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Dyer) as the Trojans led 43-33 with 9:03 on the clock.

After Walsdorf hit a 3-pointer to give the Trojans a 46-38 lead, the Cougars scored six straight points to cut their deficit to 46-44.  Cierra Watkins snapped DSU's scoring drought for a 48-44 and called a timeout with 5:09 to go in the third quarter.

Leading 48-46, Dakota State ignited a 15-3 run in the final 4:40 by hitting five 3-pointers.  Angela Slattery ignited the scoring run with a pair of 3-pointers.  Mackley, Morgan Huber, and Bria Wasmund also hit a 3-pointer to give DSU a 63-46 lead with less than 35 seconds to go.

Saint Xavier halted their scoring drought with less than 20 seconds to go in the third, trimming their deficit to 63-49 after a 3-pointer from Jenna Hernandez.

DSU outscored USX 26-18 in the third quarter, thanks to their 9-of-16 field goals (56.3 percent) and 8-of-12 3-pointers (66.7 percent).  The Cougars were 8-of-17 from the field (47.1 percent) and 1-of-5 from the 3-point arc.

Dakota State maintained their double-digit lead throughout the fourth quarter.  The Trojans posted their biggest lead of the game at 78-59 after a steal followed by a layup by Walsdorf with 2:33 remaining.

Saint Xavier closed the game with a 10-0 scoring run to round out the final score of 78-69, securing the second straight victory for Dakota State.

Dyer hit a career-high 19 points on her 7-of-12 field goals, including 5-of-8 from the 3-point line for Dakota State.  She also grabbed five rebounds.  Slattery tallied 13 points, three rebounds, and three assists.  Walsdorf scored 12 points and pulled down eight rebounds.  She stole the ball a game-high five times.

Huber had nine points for the Trojans.  Mackley added eight points and three assists.  Teel scored seven points and grabbed seven rebounds off the bench.  Watkins and Wasmund each added five points.

Derrell led the Cougars with 15 points.  Alyssa Crenshaw added 13 points and nine rebounds.  Harris scored 12 points, earned six rebounds, and registered two blocks.  Green and Hernandez each had nine points.

Dakota State shot 48.3 percent overall from the field (29-of-60 field goals) and tied the school record of 18 3-pointers in 39 attempts (46.2 percent).  It was the second time this season that the Trojans hit 18 3-pointers (versus College of the Ozarks, Mo., at DSU Fieldhouse on Dec. 1).  In addition, it was the eighth time this season that DSU had hit double-digit 3-point field goals made.

Saint Xavier was 40.6 percent from the field (26-of-64 field goals) and 9-of-25 from the 3-point line (36 percent).

The Cougars converted 8-of-14 free-throws compared to the Trojans 2-of-4 free-throws.

DSU outrebounded USX 36-33. 

The Trojans outscored the Cougars 27-13 in points off turnovers and 14-6 in fast break points.