February 4, 2023

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) used a 17-2 fourth quarter opening outburst over Mayville State (N.D.) Saturday afternoon, winning the battle of the top two teams in the North Star Athletic Association women's basketball with the score of 67-49.  The Trojans ballooned their winning streak to a season-high 10 games, tying for the fifth longest winning streak in the school record with the 2019-20 and 1981-82 squads.

Dakota State swept the season series meeting with Mayville State this season (3-0 record), including the victory in the annual Dakota Clash last November.  DSU extended its winning streak to ten games in the series meeting with MSU.

Dakota State raised their overall record to 20-5, the third straight season that the Trojans reached at least 20 wins.  The Trojans now own the sole possession for first place in the North Star standings with a 10-1 record.  Mayville State's six-game winning streak came to an end, falling to 17-5 overall record and 9-2 NSAA conference record (owns a tiebreaker over Bellevue, Neb. for second place in the standings with both teams holding a 9-2 conference record).

The Trojans stayed undefeated at home this season (10-0 record) and earned their 41st win in the last 44 home games at DSU Fieldhouse – including 13 straight home games – since the 2019-20 season.

Dakota State takes their final North Star Athletic Association road trip next weekend, visiting Dickinson State (N.D.) Friday at 6:30 p.m. (Central Time)/5:30 p.m. (Mountain Time) and Valley City State (N.D.) next Saturday at 3 p.m.  Mayville State returns home next weekend to take on Viterbo (Wis.) and Waldorf (Iowa).

(RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 67, Mayville State (N.D.) 49 – FINAL

• CJ Decker drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Jes Mertens) to open the game with a 3-0 lead with nine minutes, nineteen seconds on the clock.
• The Trojans snapped their scoring drought with a pair of free-throws by Elsie Aslesen with 7:30 on the clock (DSU trailed 3-2).
• Down 5-2, Dakota State made their first basket of the game with 4:25 left by Lilli Mackley followed by layup by Sidney Fick for a 6-5 lead with 3:28 to go in the first.
• Leading 11-10, the Trojans closed the first period in the final minute with a 7-0 spurt ignited by a 3-pointer from Angela Slattery (assisted by Courtney Menning).
• Savannah Walsdorf followed up with a steal and a layup for a 16-10 lead, while Aslesen closed the first period with a pair of free-throws for an 18-10 lead.
• Dakota State extended its scoring run to 12-0 in the early second quarter, capped by a 3-pointer from Slattery (assisted by Morgan Huber) for a 23-10 lead with 8:51 on the clock.
• MSU answered with a quick 5-0 scoring run to reduce their deficit to single digit at 23-15 after a basket by Jordan Zrust (assisted by Decker).
• Dakota State then went on a 6-0 run, highlighted with back-to-back 3-pointers from Mackley and Oliver Ritter.  The Trojans led 29-15 with 6:32 to go before halftime. 
• A 3-pointer by Huber ballooned DSU's lead to 34-19 with 1:42 remaining.  MSU's Zrust answered with a layup on the ensuing possession, trailing 34-21 with 1:16 left in the second.
• Both teams did not score in the remaining second quarter as Dakota State held a 34-21 lead. 
• DSU was 33.3 percent from the field (12-of-36 field goals) in the first twenty minutes and hit 6-of-14 3-pointers.  MSU was 40.9 percent from the field (9-of-22 field goals) and 1-of-8 from the 3-point arc.
• Zrust and Decker combined sparked Mayville State's 8-0 scoring outburst to start the third quarter, trimming their deficit to 34-29 with 5:49 on the clock.
• Despite struggling offensively in the early third quarter, Slattery made a basket (assisted by Caitlin Dyer) to snap DSU's scoring drought and extended their lead to 36-29 with 5:17 to go.
• The Comets scored the next four points to reduce DSU's lead to 36-33 with 3:45 on the clock after Zrust's basket.
• The Trojans widened their lead to 41-33 after a 3-pointer by Slattery (assisted by Aslesen) with 2:42 to go in the third period.
• DSU led 41-35 after three quarters, despite shooting 2-of-13 from the field (15.4 percent).  MSU shot 4-of-12 field goals (4-of-12 field goals) and outscored DSU 14-7 in the third period.
• Dakota State held Mayville State to no field goals in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter, fueling a monstrous 12-0 scoring run.  Mackley nailed down a 3-pointer (assisted by Dyer) as the Trojans' lead grew to 53-35 with 7:16 left.
• DSU continued its scoring run, stretching to 25-9 run, to produce the largest lead of the game at 67-44 after a 3-pointer by Aslesen (assisted by Menning) with 2:23 left.
• Dakota State outscored Mayville State 26-14 in the final quarter.
• Mackley tallied a career-high 18 points on her 5-of-10 field goals, including 4-of-7 3-pointers, and made all four free-throws for the Trojans.  Aslesen nearly recorded a double-double after scoring 16 points (made all six free-throw attempts) and pulled down nine rebounds.
• Slattery scored 13 points off the bench for DSU.  She also had three rebounds and two assists.  Huber and Fick each added six points.  Fick had eight rebounds, two blocks, and two steals.
• Dyer dished out a season-high nine assists for Dakota State.  Menning added six assists and stole the ball four times.  Walsdorf collected a game-high 10 rebounds.
• Zrust sparked the Comets with a game-high 27 points and her 10-of-20 field goals and 7-of-9 free-throws.  She also pulled down nine rebounds.
• Dcker and Erin Walcker each added seven points.  Decker and Mertens each had four assists.  Walcker had five rebounds and two blocks. 
• Dakota State shot 33.8 percent from the field (22-of-65 field goals) compared to Mayville State 36.2 percent (17-of-47 field goals).  The Trojans hit 13 3-pointers in 34 attempts while the Comets were held to 2-of-17 3-pointers. 
• MSU converted 13-of-15 free-throws.  DSU was perfect at the free-throw line, making all 10 free-throw attempts.
• The Trojans outrebounded the Comets 44-31, including 16-4 on the offensive boards.  Dakota State shut down Mayville State 20-0 in second chance points.
• DSU outscored MSU 21-13 in points off turnovers and 22-3 in bench points.

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Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director