December 30, 2023

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – NAIA's No. 13 ranked Dakota State (S.D.) drained 10 3-pointers in the first twenty minutes of the game Saturday afternoon, rolling to a 96-59 non-conference women's basketball victory over Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) at McHie Arena.  The Trojans completed their Illinois trip with a 2-0 record, sweeping both Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference opponents (defeated Saint Xavier, Ill., 78-69 on Dec. 29).

Dakota State closed out the 2023 portion of the calendar year by lifting their overall record to 11-4.  It was the sixth time this season that the Trojans had scored more than 90 points.  Olivet Nazarene fell to 5-8 overall record.

DSU stays on the road Wednesday evening as they begin their 2024 calendar year in Sioux City, Iowa.  The Trojans visit No. 8 ranked Briar Cliff (Iowa) in the final NAIA Top 25 non-conference battle of the season.  Tip-off from the Newman Flanagan Center is set for 6 p.m.

(13) Dakota State (S.D.) 96, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 59 – FINAL

Savannah Walsdorf ignited the game by scoring the first five points, followed by a steal and an assist to Caitlin Dyer's layup for 7-0 DSU lead within one minute of the game.

Olivet Nazarene ended their scoring drought with a layup by Khendel Rolison with 8:44 on the clock (DSU led 7-2).

After Rolison hit a pair of free-throws as ONU trimmed DSU's lead to 11-9, the Trojans went on an 11-2 scoring tear capped by a 3-pointer from Walsdorf for a 22-11 lead with less than three minutes go in the first.

Rolison hit a 3-pointer as the Tigers cut the Trojans lead to 24-17 by the end of the first quarter.  DSU shot 52.9 percent from the field in the first quarter (9-of-17 field goals), including 4-of-9 from the 3-point line.  Walsdorf poured in 14 points in the first quarter.  ONU was 42.9 percent from the field (6-of-14 field goals).

Dakota State ballooned their lead to 30-17 after starting the second quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers from Angela Slattery and Dyer (with 9:16 left on the clock).

The Tigers answered with an 11-2 outburst, capped by Kayleigh Flach's 3-pointer to cut the Trojans' lead to 32-28 with 6:21 remaining in the second period.

DSU then hit three straight 3-pointers from three different players – Lilli Mackley, Slattery, and Morgan Huber – to spark a 9-0 scoring run.  The Trojans led 41-28 with 4:45 to go before halftime.

Walsdorf drained a 3-pointer to close the second quarter, widening their lead to 48-30.

Dakota State outscored Olivet Nazarene 24-13 in the second period, highlighted by another 52.9 percent field goal shooting (9-of-17 field goals).  The Trojans hit 10 3-pointers in the first half. 

DSU held ONU to 22.2 percent from the field in the final ten minutes of the first half (4-of-18 field goals). 

The Trojans started the third quarter with a 7-2 run as Tabor Teel made a layup for a 55-32 lead with 7:13 on the clock.  Dakota State maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the game.

Mackley stole the ball and dished out an assist for Cierra Watkins' layup as the Trojans closed the third quarter with a 65-45 lead.

DSU posted its biggest lead of the game at 94-56 after a layup by Molli Thornton with less than two minutes left in the game.

Dakota State outscored Olivet Nazarene 31-14 in the final quarter, thanks to their blazing 63.2 percent field goal shooting (12-of-19 field goals). 

Walsdorf poured in a career-high 32 points for the Trojans.  She was 11-of-15 from the field (tied career-high in field goals made), including 6-of-8 from the 3-point arc (tied career-high in 3-point field goals made), and converted 4-of-5 free-throws.  She also stole the ball five times and grabbed four rebounds.

Her 32 points tied for eighth-most single-game record with five other occurrences (Monica Matthies versus Northwestern on Nov. 29, 1984; Julie Fiegen versus Briar Cliff on Jan. 7, 1986; Lisa Gullickson versus Briar Cliff on Dec. 3, 1991; and Kathy Shypulski twice versus Black Hills State on Feb. 2, 2020, and versus Mary (N.D.) on Jan. 19, 2001). 

Slattery added 11 points and five rebounds for Dakota State.  Watkins tallied 11 points and stole the ball a season-high six times.  Mackley scored 10 points and dished out four assists.  She registered three steals.  Teel had six points and six rebounds.  She had three assists.  Miakken Vincent scored six points.  Bria Wasmund contributed four assists.  Olivia Ritter added three assists.

Rolison led the Tigers with 16 points and four rebounds.  Jamie Finn added nine points and two steals.  Grace Schutt had nine points off the bench.  Brooklyn Marshall grabbed seven rebounds.  Preslee Michael dished out four assists. 

Dakota State made a season-high 36 field goals in 66 attempts, hitting a season-high 54.5 percent from the field.  The Trojans drained 15 3-pointers in 34 tries (44.1 percent) and converted 9-of-12 free-throws.

Olivet Nazarene was held to 33.3 percent from the field (21-of-63 field goals).  The Tigers hit 10-of-37 3-point field goals and hit 7-of-10 free-throws. 

Both teams had 37 rebounds in the game. 

The Trojans outscored the Tigers 40-15 in points off turnovers, highlighted by DSU's 20 steals.  DSU also outscored ONU 12-4 in second-chance points, 29-24 in bench points, 42-20 in points in the paint, and 23-3 in fast-break points.