February 10, 2023

DICKINSON, N.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) forced Dickinson State (N.D.) to 27 turnovers Friday evening at Scott Gymnasium, rolling to a season-high 11-game winning streak with a 73-54 North Star Athletic Association women's basketball victory.  The Trojans completed their NSAA season series sweep of the Blue Hawks for the sixth consecutive year, DSU's 14th straight victory in the series meeting with DiSU.

Dakota State, receiving votes in the latest NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, raised their overall record to 21-5 and maintained their sole possession for first place in the North Star conference with an 11-1 record.  The Trojans had won 48 times in the last 51 North Star Athletic Association regular-season contests since the 2019-20 season.

Dickinson State fell to 10-16 overall record and 5-7 NSAA conference record.

DSU wraps up their road schedule Saturday afternoon, visiting Valley City State (N.D.) in another North Star match-up.  Tip-off from the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse is set for 3 p.m. in Valley City, N.D.  DiSU stays home on the same day, hosting Bellevue (Neb.) with a 4 p.m. (CT)/3 p.m. (MT) tip-off at Scott Gymnasium.

(RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 73, Dickinson State (N.D.) 54 – FINAL

• Lilli Mackley drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Morgan Huber) to kick of the game with a 3-0 lead for Dakota State with nine minutes and eighteen seconds on the clock.
• Samantha Oase scored the Blue Hawks' first six points of the game, grabbing their first lead of the game at 6-5 with 5:40 on the clock in the first period.
• The Blue Hawks' lead was short-lived as Sidney Fick answered with a basket (assisted by Courtney Menning), giving DSU a 7-6 lead with 5:25 to go in the first.
• Knotted at 9-9, Dakota State closed the first quarter with an 8-0 scoring run in the final three minutes.  Elsie Aslesen ignited the scoring run with a 3-pointer for the Trojans.
• DSU led 17-9 after the first quarter. 
• The Trojans extended their scoring run to 12-0 to start the second quarter, thanks to Menning's steal followed by a basket and Walsdorf's steal followed by a basket for a 21-9 DSU lead with 9:18 on the clock.
• Dickinson State then went on an 8-0 scoring run to trim DSU's lead to 21-17 after McKenzie Johnson's field goal with 6:42 to go in the second.
• Angela Slattery drained a 3-pointer to start another scoring run for Dakota State.  Aslesen wrapped up DSU's 10-0 scoring run with a 3-pointer, ballooning their lead to 31-17 with 4:36 to go before intermission.
• Dakota State outscored Dickinson State 20-14 in the second period, extending their lead to 37-23 by halftime.
• The Trojans maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the game, securing the victory.  DSU out scored the Blue Hawks 15-12 in the third quarter to earn a 52-35 lead.
• Dakota State outscored Dickinson State 21-19 in the final quarter. 
• Savannah Walsdorf paved the way for the Trojans with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds.  She stole the ball six times.  Aslesen had 12 points, six rebounds, four steals, and two blocks.  Caitlin Dyer added 12 points off the bench. 
• Huber tallied 11 points and two steals for Dakota State.  Menning added 11 points, four rebounds, three assists, and three steals.  Slattery had six points.  Mackley pulled down seven rebounds.
• Oase led the Blue Hawks with 19 points and five rebounds.  She had three assists.  Lindsay Peterson added 11 points.  Heather LaBree recorded seven points. 
• Dakota State shot 36.4 percent from the field (24-of-66 field goals) and drained 12 3-pointers in 35 attempts.  Dickinson State was 44.4 percent from the field (20-of-45 field goals) and 4-of-10 from the 3-point arc.
• DSU converted 13-of-16 from the free-throw line compared to DiSU 10-of-12 free-throws.
• Dakota State outrebounded Dickinson State 44-28, including 18-2 on the offensive boards.  The Trojans outscored the Blue Hawks 13-0 in second chance points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director