January 23, 2024

This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Jan. 23, 2024)—The Dakota State University Trojan women's basketball team (17-4 overall record, 5-0 North Star Athletic Association record, No. 11 in the latest NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll) concludes their three-game conference home stand Friday evening at DSU Fieldhouse.  Friday's contest also concludes the first half portion of the North Star Athletic Association basketball conference schedule.

The Trojans host Mayville State (N.D.) (15-2 overall record, 4-0 NSAA conference record, No. 13 in the latest NAIA national poll) in the battle of the NAIA's Top 25 nationally ranked teams.  Both teams are the remaining undefeated teams in the North Star Athletic Association women's basketball conference.  

Dakota State extended their winning streak to a season-high nine games after going 2-0 record last weekend at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans rolled past Viterbo (Wis.) on Jan. 19 by the score of 82-54, followed by an 83-51 victory over Waldorf (Iowa) on Jan. 20.

Mayville State also ballooned their winning streak to ten games after going 2-0 record on the road last week.  The Comets defeated Valley City State (N.D.) by the score of 95-76 in Valley City, N.D., on Jan. 17.  MSU held off Dickinson State (N.D.) by the score of 71-54 in Dickinson, N.D., on Jan. 20.

Dakota State defeated Mayville State 63-59 in the first meeting earlier this season on a neutral site in Valley City, N.D., in the fourth annual Dakota Clash, which was MSU's last setback on Nov. 18.

Up Next:  DSU begins their second half portion of the NSAA schedule the road.  The Trojans visit Viterbo (Wis.) on Feb. 2 and Waldorf (Iowa) on Feb. 3 in their final regular-season meeting as conference members.

This Week's Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) extended their winning streak to nine games after going 2-0 record last weekend.  Their nine-game winning streak tied for the eighth longest winning streak in school record book with the 1978-79 squad.
+ The Trojans had won 12 times in the last 14 meetings with Mayville State (N.D.), including the most recent meeting in the fourth annual Dakota Clash in Valley City, N.D. (DSU won 63-59 after outscoring MSU 23-16 in the fourth quarter).
+ Dakota State and Mayville State played each other four times during the 2022-23 season, with the Trojans winning the first three meetings.  The Comets defeated the Trojans in the North Star Athletic Association postseason tournament's championship game on Feb. 26, 2023, in Watertown, S.D.
+ DSU had won five straight home meetings in the series with MSU.  That streak began on Nov. 20, 2020, in the first annual Dakota Clash tournament at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans averaged a margin of victory over the Comets by 22.0 points per game during their five-game home court winning streak.
+ The Trojans accumulated 55 victories in the last 58 North Star Athletic Association regular-season contests (excluding Dakota Clash contests and postseason contests) since the 2019-20 season (.948 winning percentage).
+ Dakota State is averaging 86.2 points per game during the North Star Athletic Association contests, while Mayville State is averaging 77.8 points per conference game.

Noteworthy...
WALSDORF HIT ALL-TIME FIELD GOALS MADE:  Another all-time record was set by Savannah Walsdorf during Dakota State's (S.D.) 83-51 home victory over Waldorf (Iowa) at DSU Fieldhouse on Jan. 20.  The Trojans highlighted an 8-0 second quarter opening run, capped by a fast-break opportunity as Miakken Vincent dished an assist to Walsdorf for a layup for 30-11 lead.  Walsdorf surpassed the previous school record held by Jessi Giles, where she made 697 field goals made from 2018-22.  Walsdorf also owns the all-time record with 368 steals prior to Friday's game.

TROJANS IN THE NAIA AND NSAA RANKS:  According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Tuesday, Dakota State ranks 20th overall in the nation (NAIA) in scoring offense with 80.4 points per game.  Tabor Teel is 25th in the NAIA in field goal percentage of 58.3 percent (70-of-120 field goals).  Her field goal percentage leads the North Star Athletic Association, as well as blocks per game (1.9) and total blocks (39 total blocks).  Savannah Walsdorf leads the NSAA conference with 63 total steals and is second in field goal percentage of 53.7 percent (132-of-246 field goals).  She also ranks fifth overall in league's 3-point field goal percentage of 41.1 percent (44-of-107 3-pointers). 

A LOOK AT NSAA CONFERENE STANDINGS:  The North Star Athletic Association women's basketball first half portion of the conference schedule is wrapping up this weekend.  Dakota State holds the first place by one-game game with a 5-0 record over Mayville State (N.D.) with a 4-0 record.  Bellevue (Neb.) is third with 3-2 league record, followed by Valley City State (N.D.) fourth with 2-2 record, and Viterbo (Wis.) fifth with 1-3 record.  Waldorf (Iowa) and Dickinson State (N.D.) are winless in four NSAA conference contests this season (0-4 NSAA record).

DAKOTA STATE'S JUNIOR VARSITY BASKETBALL UPDATES:  The Dakota State University Trojan women's basketball junior varsity team fell short in home-and-away contests with Dordt (Iowa).  The Trojans dropped a 70-56 home contest on Jan. 18 at DSU Fieldhouse, followed by a 68-55 setback in Sioux Center, Iowa, on Jan. 22.  DSU visits Minnesota West CC on Wednesday evening before returning home on Monday evening versus Northwestern (Iowa).

(11) Trojans use second-half surge to defeat V-Hawks
Madison, S.D. (Jan. 19, 2024)—Nationally-ranked Dakota State (S.D.) outscored Viterbo (Wis.) 44-25 in the second half to earn an 82-54 North Star Athletic Association victory at DSU Fieldhouse. 

After struggling to find the offense rhythm to start the game, the Trojans grabbed a 20-15 lead after the first quarter.  VU rallied back to knot the game at 21-21 in the early second quarter before DSU grabbed a 38-29 halftime lead.  The Trojans continued its scoring run in the third quarter and never trailed for the rest of the game.  DSU led 61-47 after three quarters and outscored VU 21-10 in the fourth.

Savannah Walsdorf led the Trojans with 16 points and grabbed six rebounds.  Caitlin Dyer added 14 points.  Tabor Teel scored 15 points off the bench on her 7-of-8 field goals.  She added three blocks.  Morgan Huber had nine points.  Angela Slattery tallied seven points, eight rebounds, three steals, and four assists.  Lilli Mackley had six points and pulled down seven rebounds.

DSU shot 40.6 percent from the field (28-of-69 field goals) compared to VU 35.7 percent (20-of-56 FGs).

(11) DSU continues dominance in NSAA conference
Madison, S.D. (Jan. 20, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) continued their dominance in the North Star Athletic Association, holding Waldorf (Iowa) to 28.6 field goal percentage in 83-51 victory at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans defeated the Warriors for the 10th straight time and raised their all-time series to 17-2 record.

Waldorf kicked off the game with a 4-0 lead.  Trailing 6-4, Dakota State went on a 13-0 outburst and never looked back.  The Trojans led 22-11 after the first quarter and outscored the Warriors 26-9 in the second quarter for a 48-20 lead.  Dakota State maintained their double digit lead for the rest of the game, outscoring Waldorf 35-31 in the final twenty minutes of the game.

Savannah Walsdorf led the Trojans with 19 points on her 9-of-12 field goals.  Lilli Mackley and Tabor Teel each added 10 points.  Teel had nine rebounds, three steals, and two blocks.  Miakken Vincent tied her career-high nine points off the bench.  She also tied a career-high five rebounds. 

Dakota State shot 33-of-68 field goals (48.5 percent) and held Waldorf to 18-of-63 field goals).  The Trojans outrebounded the Warriors 47-38.  DSU outscored WU 13-0 in fast-break opportunities.

A look at Dakota State-Mayville State series
Madison, S.D. (Jan. 23, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) had dominated Mayville State (N.D.) in the latest all-time series meetings.  The Trojans had won 12 times in the last 14 meetings, including the most recent meeting in the fourth annual Dakota Clash in Valley City, N.D., on Nov. 18, 2023, by the score of 63-59. 

Mayville State snapped DSU's 10-game winning streak in the series in last year's North Star Athletic Association women's basketball postseason tournament in Watertown, S.D., on Feb. 26, 2023.  Both teams advanced to the NAIA Women's Basketball National Tournament, where the Trojans made to the Fab Four round, while the Comets fell to Dordt (Iowa) in the second round.

Dakota State went 4-0 record in the annual Dakota Clash, which began on Nov. 20, 2020, at DSU Fieldhouse, where the Trojans began their 10-game winning streak in the series over the Comets.

DSU had won five straight home meetings with the Comets, with the last home meeting on Feb. 4, 2023, where the Trojans won by the score of 67-49.  It was the lowest total points that Dakota State had allowed in the last 30 meetings with Mayville State.

DSU and MSU were former members of the Dakota Athletic Conference in the 2000's decade.

2023-24 Dakota State Women's Basketball Team Leaders

• Points/Points Per Game:  Savannah Walsdorf - 338 points (16.1 points per game)
• Field Goal Percentage:  Tabor Teel - 58.3 percent (70-of-120 field goals)
• 3-point Field Goal Percentage:  Savannah Walsdorf - 41.1 percent (44-of-107 3-point field goals)
• Free-Throw Percentage:  Caitlin Dyer - 80.0 percent (28-of-35 free-throws)
• Rebounds:  Tabor Teel - 147 rebounds - (7.0 rebounds per game)
• Assists/Assists Per Game:  Savannah Walsdorf - 50 assists (2.4 assists per game)
• Steals/Steals Per Game:  Savannah Walsdorf - 63 steals (3.0 steals per game)
• Blocked Shots:  Tabor Teel - 39 blocks (1.9 blocks per game)

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