October 25, 2024

ST. PAUL, Minn. – NAIA's nationally-ranked No. 6 Dakota State (S.D.) kicked off their 2024-25 women's basketball season Friday evening, playing an exhibition game with NCAA Division II Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.).  The Golden Bears held off the Trojans in a 95-92 high scoring affair in overtime at Gangelhoff Center. 

The Trojans kicked off the game by shotting 61.1 percent from the field in the first ten minutes of the game (11-of-18 field goals), earning a 28-22 lead.  Tabor Teel scored 11 points in the first period for DSU.

DSU maintained their lead throughout the second quarter, holding on to a 46-42 halftime lead.

The second half of the exhibition contest saw a tale of two quarters.  After a free-throw by Angela Slattery to put DSU up 47-42 to kick off the third quarter, Concordia-St. Paul erupted for 11 straight points to grab a 53-47 lead after Lindsey Becher's basket with 6:08 on the clock.

The Golden Bears took a 65-53 lead by the end of the third quarter, outscoring the Trojans 23-7.

Trailing 69-59 with 8:27 remaining, Dakota State went on a 18-4 outburst to regain their lead to 75-73 after a pair of free-throws by Teel with 2:13 left.

Both teams traded leads through the last two minutes in regulation.  Becher hit a jumper to put CSP up 79-78 with less than 30 seconds left.  Bria Wasmund followed up with a pair of free-throws as DSU earned an 80-79 lead with 18 seconds remaining.

Cierra Watkins blocked CSP's Julia Bengston's 3-pointer as DSU regained possession as Angela Slattery rebounded.  The Golden Bears committed a foul on the ensuing possession, sending DSU's Teel to the free-throw line with less than ten seconds left.

Teel missed the first shot and made the second free-throw as the Trojans extended their lead to 81-79.  Concordia-St. Paul was able to convert their fast break opportunity with a layup by Lydia Haack to tie the game at 81-81 with a second left.

Dakota State called a timeout to advance the ball.  Lilli Mackley missed the potential game-winning 3-pointer as the game was extended into overtime. 

The Trojans outscored the Golden Bears 28-16 in the fourth quarter. 

Concordia-St. Paul kicked off the overtime period with a 5-0 scoring run, highlighted by a 3-point play by Haack for an 86-81 lead with less than four minutes left.

Dakota State answered with a 5-0 scoring run to tie the game to 86-86 after a 3-pointer by Mackley with 2:25 remaining.

Both teams traded lead until the Golden Bears pulled away in the final minute.  A free-throw by Watkins put the Trojans up 89-87.  CSP went on a 5-0 scoring run to grab a 92-89 lead with 35 seconds to go.

The Trojans could get no closer than one point at 92-91 after a fastbreak layup by Wasmund with 30 seconds remaining. 

CSP outscored DSU 14-11 in overtime.

Teel paced the Trojans with a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds.  Mackley added 20 points and stole the ball four times.  Slattery produced a double-double of 18 points and pulled down 13 rebounds.  She had three steals.  Wasmund scored 14 points and dished out six assists.

Kenzi Simmons scored six points off the bench for the Trojans.  Brooke Gunderson had three assists.  Watkins and Angelina Chapple each registered two blocked shots.

Haack poured in 29 points on her 10-of-19 field goals and 8-of-11 free-throws for Concordia-St. Paul.  She posted a double-double with 11 assists.  Becher added a double-double of 22 points and 13 rebounds.  She had six blocks.  Julia Bengston and Lauren Wilson each scored 13 points.  Ashley Schuelke had 10 points.
 
Bengston, Wilson, and Megan Gamble each grabbed seven rebounds for CSP.  Bengston had seven assists.

Dakota State shot 32-of-82 from the field (39 percent), 13-of-37 from the 3-point line, and hit 15-of-21 free-throws.  Concordia-St. Paul was 38.6 percent from the field (34-of-88 field goals), 6-of-24 3-pointers, and 21-of-28 from the free-throw line.
The Trojans outscored the Golden Bears 15-6 in fast break points.

Dakota State plays another exhibition game on Monday evening, visiting another NCAA Division II opponent and CSP's conference foe (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) Northern State (S.D.).  The game is set for 5:30 p.m. at Barnett Center in Aberdeen, S.D.