November 13, 2024

This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Nov. 13, 2024)—The Dakota State University Trojan women's basketball team (2-2 overall record, ranked No. 6 in the preseason edition of the NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll) is set to face their fourth opponent that is ranked inside the NAIA's Top 10 in their first five games of the season.

The Trojans play the NAIA's national defending champion and No. 1 ranked Dordt (Iowa) (3-0 overall record) of the Great Plains Athletic Conference.  Both teams return to the Sanford Sports Complex on the Heritage Court at the Pentagon (2405 W Benson Road) for the third straight year.  The game is set for tip off at 5:30 p.m. in Sioux Falls, S.D.  DSU is the home team this year.

Dakota State returns home  Saturday afternoon for a non-conference  match-up with NCAA Division III Minnesota-Morris.  Tip-off from the DSU Fieldhouse is set for 2 p.m. in Madison, S.D.

The Trojans went 1-1 record versus NAIA's Top 10 teams last week, earning their second win of the season on Nov. 6 at the Corn Palace.  Dakota State defeated rival No. 9 ranked Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 74-62 in the second annual 'Battle of the Blues' contest in Mitchell.  DSU fell short in their home opener versus No. 5 ranked Concordia (Neb.) by the score of 64-54 at DSU Fieldhouse on Nov. 9.

Dordt went 2-0 record in the Northwestern (Iowa) Pizza Ranch Classic, defeating No. 17 ranked Grand View (Iowa) on Nov. 8 and College of the Ozarks (Mo.) 80-57 on Nov. 9.  Minnesota-Morris went 0-3 to open their season, dropping a pair of games in the St. Benedict's (Minn.) Tournament followed by an 83-57 home defeat to Concordia (Minn.) on Nov. 12.
 
Up Next:  Dakota State takes a week off before returning to action.  The Trojans face a pair of Great Plains Athletic Conference foes, at Northwestern (Iowa) on Nov. 26 and Morningside (Iowa) on Nov. 30.

This Week's Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) is 1-2 record against NAIA"s Top 10 teams this season, earning their first win over NAIA's Top 10 at No. 9 Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) on Nov. 6.  The Trojans fell short to No. 10 Southern Oregon 70-68 on Nov. 1 and Concordia (Neb.) 64-54 on Nov. 9.
+ No. 1 ranked Dordt (Iowa) won both meetings at the Sanford Sports Complex over Dakota State in the last two seasons.  The Defenders had won thre straight meetings with the Trojans.
+ DSU is seeking for their first win over Dordt since Nov. 3, 2020, when the Trojans won by the score of 79-60 at DSU Fieldhouse in Madison.
+ The Trojans are 1-1 record versus members of the Great Plains Athletic Conference this season.  The Trojans face three more teams from the Great Plains Athletic Conference on their 2024-25 schedule, including Dordt on Wednesday (Northwestern, Iowa, and Morningside, Iowa).
+ Dakota State won the last meeting with Minnesota-Morris 78-39 at DSU Fieldhouse on Dec. 1, 2022.  The Trojans had won the previous four meetings since Dec. 16, 2011, where DSU is averaging  74.0 points per game.
+ The Trojans play their final home November game on Saturday and won't return home until Dec. 9 as they kick off their three-game home stand versus NCAA Division III foe North Central (Minn.).

Noteworthy...
CAREER HIGHS DURING THE WEEK:  Several Dakota State (S.D.) players set career-highs during their 1-1 record against NAIA's Top 10 teams.  Kenzi Simmons poured in career high 23 points on her 8-of-14 field goals and 7-of-12  3-pointers in DSU's 74-62 road victory at No. 9 Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.).  The Trojans also had career high 15 rebounds by Tabor Teel.  Bria Wasmund scored a career high 20 points on her 7-of-12 field goals and 6-of-10 3-pointers, despite 64-54 home defeat to No. 5 ranked Concordia (Neb.).  

DAKOTA STATE AT SANFORD SPORTS COMPLEX:  Dakota State returns to the Sanford Sports Complex for the third consecutive year Wednesday, facing nationally-ranked Dordt (Iowa).  Both teams played each other since the 2021-22 season.  The Trojans had played at the Sanford Sports Complex in the late 2010's as part of the NAIA-South Dakota Showcase where former North Star member Presentation and DSU facing in-state rivals Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) and Mount Marty (S.D.), starting during the 2016-17.  The NAIA-South Dakota Showcase ran for four years.

LOOKING AHEAD ON DSU SCHEDULE:  After playing Saturday at home versus NCAA Division III Minnesota-Morris, Dakota State is off for a week before returning to action for a pair of road contests during Thanksgiving week.  The Trojans visit Northwestern (Iowa) on Nov. 26 and Morningside (Iowa) on Nov. 30.  Dakota State then kicks off their three-game home stand versus North Central (Minn.) on Dec. 9, followed by the North Star Athletic Association home opener versus Mayville State (N.D.) and Valley City State (N.D) on Dec. 14-15, respectively.  Dakota State then plays an exhibition game at NCAA Division I South Dakota State on Dec. 17.

2024-25 DAKOTA STATE JUNIOR VARSITY TEAM OPENS HOME SCHEDULE MONDAY:  The 2024-25 Dakota State University Trojan women's basketball junior varsity earned their first win of the 2024-25 season as they rolled past rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 69-50 on Nov. 11.  The Trojans continue their home stand versus Northwestern (Iowa) Thursday and Dordt (Iowa) on Monday.  Both games start at 6 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.

(6) Trojans keep 'Battle of the Blues' traveling trophy
Mitchell, S.D. (Nov. 6, 2024)—Trailing by three points after the first quarter at the Corn Palace, No. 6 ranked Dakota State (S.D.) outscored No. 9 ranked Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in each of the three quarters to secure a 74-62 victory.. 

The Tigers took a 20-17 lead over the Trojans after the first quarter.  DSU outscored DWU 18-11 in the second quarter to grab a 35-31 halftime lead.  The Trojans extended their lead to 55-45 after three quarter and never trailed for the rest of the game.

Kenzi Simmons led Dakota State with 23 points off the bench on her 8-of-14 field goals, including 7-of-12 3-pointers.  Bria Wasmund added 15 points and dished out five assists.  Tabor Teel posted a double-double of14 points and grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds (12 defensive rebounds).  Lilli Mackley had seven rebounds.  Cierra Watkins scored seven points and stole the ball four times.

The Trojans were 28-of-77 from the field (36.4 percent) compared to the Tigers 24-of-62 field goals (38.7 percent).  DSU hit 12 3-pointers in 36 attempts while DWU was 2-of-12 3-pointers.

(5) Concordia (Neb.) spoils (6) Trojans' home opener
Madison, S.D. (Nov. 9, 2024)—No. 5 ranked Concordia (Neb.) held off No. 6 Dakota State (S.D.) 64-54 in the early battle of NAIA's Top 10 ranked teams at DSU Fieldhouse. 

The Bulldogs held on a slim 17-16 lead after the first quarter and stretched their lead by eight points by halftime.  CUNE and DSU went through lead changes and ties throughout the second quarter.  Concordia shutdown the Trojans 9-0 in the final 2:51 of the second quarter for a 34-26 halftime lead.  CUNE was up as many at 15 points before DSU went on an 11-2 outburst to cut their deficit to 49-43.  Concordia maintained their lead for the rest of the game, outscoring Dakota State 13-11 in the final quarter.

Bria Wasmund scored a career-high 20 points on her 7-of-12 field goals, including 6-of-10 3-pointers for the Trojans.  Angela Slattery added 10 points and pulled down eight rebounds.  She had three assists, two steals, and a block.  Tabor Teel tallied nine points, five rebounds, and four assists.  Tia Murray had seven points, five rebounds and registered three blocks.

CUNE shot 48 percent from the field (24-of-50 field goals) compared to DSU 39.6 percent (21-of-53 FGs).

Trojans in the NSAA conference ranks
Madison, S.D. (Nov. 13, 2024)—According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Wednesday, Tabor Teel ranks second in the North Star Athletic Association with 10.3 rebounds per game for Dakota State (S.D.).  She is 11th in the conference with 11.5 points per game this season and ninth with 2.8 assists per game.  Bria Wasmund is tied for 10th with 2.5 assists per gmae. 

Hamtyn Heinz is second in the league in 3-point field goal percentage (60.0 percent) for the Trojans. 

Dakota State is second in the North Star Athletic Association in 3-point field goals allowed with 19 3-pointers in four games (nearly allowed five 3-pointers per game).  The Trojans are second in the North Star Athletic Association in points allowed with 62.5 points per game.

The North Star Athletic Association conference season kicks off on the weekend of Dec. 14-15, where Dakota State hosts Mayville State (N.D.) and Valley City State (N.D.) at DSU Fieldhouse.
Each North Star Athletic Association member will be playing three round robin games during their conference season, playing a total of 15 conference games.  The Trojans will host MSU and VCSU twice during the conference season, as well as Bellevue (Neb.), Jamestown (N.D.), and Dickinson State (N.D.) once.  They will travel to BU, UJ, and DiSU twice during the 2025 year. 

2024-25 Dakota State Women's Basketball Team Leaders

• Points/Points Per Game:  Tabor Teel - 46 points (11.5 points per game)
• Field Goal Percentage:  Cierra Watkins - 62.5 percent (10-of-16 field goals)
• 3-point Field Goal Percentage:  Hamtyn Heinz - 60.0 percent (3-of-5 3-point field goals)
• Free-Throw Percentage:  Tabor Teel - 81.0 percent (17-of-21 free-throws)
• Rebounds:  Tabor Teel - 41 rebounds (10.3 rebounds per game)
• Assists/Assists Per Game:  Tabor Teel - 11 assists (2.8 assists per game)
• Steals/Steals Per Game:  Cierra Watkins - 10 steals (2.5 steals per game)
• Blocked Shots:  Tia Murray - 6 blocks (1.5 blocks per game)