October 28, 2024

Photo credit by Kory Burdick

ABERDEEN, S.D. – NAIA's No. 6 ranked Dakota State (S.D.) was unable to overcome NCAA Division II Northern State's (S.D.) fast start Monday evening at Wachs Arena, falling in another exhibition contest to Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference foe 89-66.  It was also an exhibition contest for the Wolves.

NSU kicked off the game with a 5-0 lead with a 3-pointer from Rianna Fillipi followed by a basket by Madelyn Bragg with eight minutes and twenty-six seconds on the clock in the first quarter.  Lilli Mackley made a basket on the ensuing possession as the Trojans trailed 5-2.

Northern State went on a 6-0 scoring run to balloon their lead to 11-2, capped by back-to-back baskets from Fillipi with 6:45 to go in the first.

Fillipi hit a layup to give Northern State a 24-10 lead after the first quarter.  NSU extended their lead to 29-10 after Carl Kuyper's basket with 8:31 to go in the second quarter.

Izzy Moore hit a layup to put the Wolves up 49-29 by halftime.  Northern State outscored Dakota State 22-16 in the third quarter, extending their lead to 71-45.

The Trojans shot 52.6 percent in the final quarter (10-of-19 field goals), outscoring the Wolves 22-16 to round out the final score.

Tabor Teel led Dakota State with 15 points and five rebounds.  She also had a block.  Mackley added 12 points, four rebounds, and three assists.  Bria Wasmund and Olivia Ritter each tallied eight points.  Angela Slattery scored seven points.  Wasmund and Slattery each had two steals.

Madelyn Bragg scored 20 points on her 10-of-17 field goals and pulled down six rebounds for Northern State.  Fillipi added 16 points and five rebounds.  Michaela Jewett had 15 points and six rebounds.  Alayna Benike had seven points, eight rebounds, and four assists.

NSU shot 49.4 percent overall from the field (38-of-77 field goals) compared to DSU 35.4 percent (23-of-65 field goals).  The Trojans were 14-of-25 from the free-throw line, while the Wolves were 8-of-11 free-throws. 

Dakota State opens their regular season play Friday on the first day of the two-day Cattle Classic, hosted by No. 5 ranked Concordia (Neb.).  The Trojans face No. 10 ranked Southern Oregon in the early battle of NAIA's Top 10 teams.  Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. at Friedrich Arena in Seward, Neb.