February 3, 2023

PHOTO GALLERY - Photos credit by Cody Welu

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) outscored Presentation (S.D.) 41-9 in points off turnovers and 22-5 in second chance points, rolling to their season-high ninth straight victory with an 81-51 North Star Athletic Association women's basketball contest Friday evening at DSU Fieldhouse.  The contest was also the fourth annual Ag Ball contest by the DSU Athletics department, showing our appreciation and thank you to all of the local agriculture producers and businesses.

The victory was also DSU's 40th victory in the last 43 home contests at DSU Fieldhouse since the 2019-20 season.  The Trojans are 9-0 record at home this season.  DSU earned their ninth straight victory in the series meeting with PC, their 24th win in the last 28 meetings in what could be the last-ever meeting between both teams (PC announced its campus closure by the end of the academic year).

Dakota State, receiving votes – RV – in the latest NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, raised their overall record to 19-5 and 9-1 NSAA conference record.  Presentation dropped their 13th straight game, falling to 1-20 overall record and 0-10 record in the league.

The Trojans wrap up their season-high four-game home stand Saturday afternoon.  DSU hosts Mayville State (N.D.) – both teams with a 9-1 record in the North Star contests – in the battle of the top two teams in the league with a 3 p.m. tip-off at DSU Fieldhouse.  Presentation travels to Bellevue (Neb.) Saturday for a 3 p.m. tip-off at Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.

(RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 81, Presentation (S.D.) 51 – FINAL

• Both teams struggled offensively in the early going of the game, however, DSU opened with a quick 4-0 lead with nine minutes and twenty seconds on the clock after Savannah Walsdorf's layup (assisted by Elsie Aslesen).
• Dalayna Tadolini made a basket to snap PC's scoring drought (assisted by Nek Newell) with 8:25 to go in the first quarter (DSU led 4-2).
• Leading 8-4, Dakota State closed the first period with a 10-0 scoring run in the final 1:57.  Caitlin Dyer nailed down a pair of free-throws near the end of the first quarter, giving the Trojans an 18-4 lead.
• DSU was 7-of-19 from the field in the first ten minutes of the game (36.8 percent) and held PC to 20 percent (2-of-10 field goals).  The Trojans forced the Saints to 13 turnovers.
• Dakota State's lead grew in the second quarter by holding Presentation to four points in eight minutes, highlighting a 24-8 monstrous run including scoring 14 straight points.
• Sidney Fick made a layup (assisted by Lilli Mackley) to give the Trojans a 42-12 lead with 2:06 left before halftime.
• The Saints closed the second period with a 7-2 run, trimming the Trojans' lead to 44-19 by halftime after Emma Ogitchia's basket (assisted by Kayla Carman).
• Dakota State outscored Presentation 26-15 in the second quarter.
• DSU was 39.5 percent from the field in the first half (15-of-38 field goals) while PC was 39.1 percent (9-of-23 field goals).  The Trojans outscored the Saints 32-5 in points off turnovers in the first twenty minutes.
• Dakota State maintained their lead between 25- and 28-points in the third quarter.  Aslesen made a layup as the Trojans led 60-33 after three periods.
• DSU produced the biggest lead of the game at 75-43 with 4:45 remaining after a pair of free-throws by Courtney Menning.
• Menning and Fick led Dakota State's balanced scoring attack with 14 points each.  Aslesen added 11 points.  Olivia Ritter scored 10 points off the bench.  Mackley had nine points.  Walsdorf tallied eight points.
• Mackley led the Trojans with eight rebounds.  Walsdorf and Aslesen each added six rebounds.  Aslesen registered four blocks.  Dyer and Fick each pulled down five rebounds. 
• Menning contributed four assists and stole the ball a season-high seven times for DSU.  Angela Slattery had a career-high six steals.  Fick had three steals. 
• Ogitchida led the Saints with 10 points and dished out a game-high six assists.  Grace Lupumba had seven points, eight rebounds, two blocks, and two steals off the bench.  Carman and KD Petersen each added six points.
• Paula Bernal Rodriga had five points and four steals off the bench for Presentation.  Gabby Lopez had two blocks.
• Dakota State shot 35.6 percent overall from the field (26-of-73 field goals) compared to Presentation 43.1 percent (22-of-51 field goals). 
• The Trojans converted 25-of-39 free-throws, while the Saints were 6-of-8 from the free-throw line. 
• DSU outrebounded PC 46-37, including 27-10 on the offensive boards.
• Dakota State forced Presentation to 35 turnovers in the game.  The Trojans registered a season-high 25 steals.

	2022 North Star Athletic Association Baseball All-Conference
	2022 North Star Athletic Association Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field All-Conference

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director