November 2, 2024

SEWARD, Neb. – Dakota State (S.D.) roared back from a five-point deficit with 25 seconds left in the game as Cierra Watkins hit a pair of free-throws with :00.1 second left, lifting to a 56-54 women's basketball victory over Oklahoma City at Friedrich Arena.  The two-day Cattle Class was hosted by No. 5 ranked Concordia (Neb.).

Dakota State finished with a 1-1 record in the tournament.  Oklahoma City, a member of the Sooner Athletic Conference, fell to 0-2 overall record (lost to host team Concordia 78-64 on the first day of the tournament).

The Trojans travel to the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D., on Wednesday evening for the annual Battle of the Blues with rival No. 9 ranked Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.).  The game is set for 6 p.m.

(6) Dakota State (S.D.) 56, Oklahoma City 54 – FINAL

Lilli Mackley opened the game with a 3-pointer (assisted by Tabor Teel) to give Dakota State a 3-0 early lead with nine minutes and thirty-two seconds on the clock.  The Starts answered by scoring the next four points, capped by a basket from Ray Osborn for a 4-3 lead with 8:23 on the clock.

DSU then went on a 6-0 scoring run, thanks to a 3-pointer from Kenzi Simons and Hamtyn Heinz for a 9-4 lead with 6:43 to go in the first quarter.  The Stars snapped their 3-plus minutes scoring drought with a layup from Jerney Bennett (DSU led 9-6) with 5:03 on the clock.

Angela Slattery answered with a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to extend the Trojans' lead to 12-6 with 4:48 to go in the first.

Oklahoma City would close the first quarter with a 10-4 scoring run, capped by a pair of free-throws from Brooke Curry to knot the game at 16-16.

Both teams struggled from the field in the first quarter, with the Stars shooting 5-of-16 field goals (31.3 percent) to the Trojans 5-of-17 field goals (29.4 percent).  DSU was 4-of-10 from the 3-point arc in the first quarter.

Oklahoma City started the second quarter with a 4-0 run for a 20-16 lead.  The Stars held Dakota State scoreless for four-plus minutes.  Mackley hit a pair of free-throws to end their scoring drought with 5:50 to go in the second, trailing 20-18.

Tia Murray ended the second period with a layup as Dakota State trailed 27-25 by halftime.

The Stars outscored the Trojans 11-9 in the second period.  Oklahoma City was 5-of-16 from the field (31.3 percent) in the final ten minutes of the first half and held DSU to 3-of-15 field goal shooting (20 percent).

Dakota State regained their lead as Slattery opened the third period with a 3-pointer for a 28-27 lead with 9:16 on the clock.  Oklahoma City answered with a 6-0 scoring run to grab a 33-28 lead with 5:38 to go in the third.

The Stars led 39-34 after three quarters, outscoring the Trojans 12-9.  OKC was 4-of-11 from the field (36.4 percent) compared to DSU 3-of-13 field goals (23.1 percent) in the first ten minutes of the second half.

Simmons drained a 3-pointer to kick off the fourth quarter as Dakota State trimmed Oklahoma City's lead to 39-37 with 8:45 remaining.

The Stars ballooned their lead to 43-37 after a basket from Amaya Gordon with 7:13 to go in the game.

Oklahoma City posted the largest lead of the game at 51-44 with 1:13 left after Gordon's basket. 

Dakota State mounted a furious comeback in the final minute of the game.  Trailing 54-49 after a pair of free-throws from Star's Gordon, the Trojans called a timeout to advance the ball to the front court.  Teel quickly completed a 3-point play as DSU trailed 54-52 with 23 seconds to go.

The Stars committed a turnover on the next possession as Watkins stole the ball.  Oklahoma City then committed a foul on the Trojans, sending Teel to the free-throw line.  She hit both free throws to tie the game to 54-54 with ten seconds remaining.

Oklahoma City called a timeout to advance the ball the front court.  The Stars committed a turnover with less than five seconds left, regaining possession for the Trojans.  DSU called a timeout to advance the ball to the front court.

OKC committed a foul on the Trojans, sending Watkins to the free-throw line for two attempts with :00.1 second left in the game.  She hit a pair of free throws to secure a victory for Dakota State.

Dakota State outscored Oklahoma City 22-15 in the final quarter, thanks to their 8-of-9 free-throws in the fourth quarter.

Teel led the Trojans with 13 points and pulled down seven rebounds.  Slattery and Mackley each added 11 points.  Slattery grabbed eight rebounds.  Mackley added seven rebounds.

Simons scored six points off the bench for DSU.  Watkins added four points and two assists.  Bria Wasmund dished out three assists.

Gordon paced the Stars with 18 points on her 8-of-11 field goals.  She also stole the ball five times.  Jerney Bennett added 12 points and six rebounds off the bench.  She registered four blocks.  Jerzie Bryant had five points, four rebounds, and four steals.  Raegan Travis had seven points and nine rebounds.

Oklahoma City shot 37 percent from the field (20-of-54 field goals) and held Dakota State to 27.4 percent (17-of-62 field goals).  The Trojans hit 10 3-pointers in 38 attempts, while the Stars did not make 3-pointers in seven attempts.  Oklahoma City hit 14-of-21 free-throws (66.7 percent) compared to Dakota State 12-of-15 free-throws (80 percent).

OKC had a slim rebounding edge over DSU (43-42).  The Trojans outscored the Stars 13-10 in points off turnovers and 7-5 in second chance points.