November 26, 2024

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – Dakota State (S.D.) built the largest lead of the game early in the fourth quarter at Bultman Center over Northwestern (Iowa) in the NAIA Women's Basketball Top 25 battle.  The Trojans led as many as 12 points and held off the Red Raiders' late fourth quarter comeback for a 62-59 victory.

DSU earned their third straight road victory in the series meeting with NWIA since Nov. 11, 2020.  The Trojans won their second straight game, improving their overall record to 4-3.  The Red Raiders fell to 4-3 overall record.

It was the fifth contest during this month that Dakota State had faced the NAIA's Top 25 teams.

Dakota State stays on the road as they face their final opponent from the Great Plains Athletic Conference, (RV) Morningside (Iowa) Saturday evening.  Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at RVSC-Allee Gym in Sioux City, Iowa.

(7) Dakota State (S.D.) 62, (21) Northwestern (Iowa) 59 – FINAL

Northwestern kicked off the game by scoring five straight, starting with a 3-pointer from Kylie Foss followed by a layup by Lexie Kekerix with eight minutes, thirty-two seconds on the clock.

Dakota State snapped their scoring drought with a 3-pointer from Kenzi Simmons, assisted by Angela Slattery with 7:38 on the clock in the first quarter.

The game was knotted at 10-10 after a layup from DSU's Cierra Watkins with less than four minutes to go in the first period. 

The Red Raiders led 16-11 after the first ten minutes, thanks to their 7-of-14 field goals (50 percent).  The Trojans were held to 4-of-12 field goals (33.3 percent).

Both teams struggled to find their offense rhythm in the second quarter.  The Trojans on a 11-6 scoring run to tie the game at 22-22 after Slattery's basket with 4:26 on the clock.

Tia Murray completed a three-point play as Dakota State tied the game at 27-27 by halftime.  DSU outscored NWIA 16-11 in the second quarter.  The Trojans shot 7-of-19 field goals (36.8 percent) compared to the Red Raiders 27.8 percent (5-of-18 field goals).

DSU began the third quarter with a 7-2 scoring run, stretching their lead to 34-29 after a 3-pointer from Simmons (assisted by Lilli Mackley) with 6:08 on the clock.  NWIA answered by scoring four straight points to cut DSU's lead to 34-33 after Madison Naig's layup with 4:20 to go in the third.

Leading 36-35, Dakota State went on a 9-1 outburst in the final 2:42 of the third period.  Slattery closed the first quarter with a steal and a layup by Slattery to give the Trojans a 45-36 lead.

DSU outscored NWIA 18-9 in the first ten minutes of the second half.  The Trojans were 7-of-21 field goals and held the Red Raiders to 2-of-11 field goals (18.2 percent).

Mackley drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Tabor Teel) to give Dakota State the biggest lead of the game at 50-38 with 9:18 to go in the game.  The Trojans maintained their lead between five- and 11-points for five-and-half-minutes until the Red Raiders mounted a comeback.

With DSU leading 56-49 after Slattery's layup, Northwestern scored the next four points on back-to-back layups from Molly Schany as they trimmed their deficit to 56-53 with 3:38 left.

It was the only closest margin for the Red Raiders as the Trojans pulled away until the last 10 seconds of the game.  The Trojans ballooned their lead to 62-55 after a free throw by Bria Wasmund with 20 seconds remaining.

Schany hit a layup on the next possession as Northwestern cut their deficit to 62-57.  The Trojans committed a turnover on the next possession as NWIA's Kaydin Davis stole the ball and called a timeout to advance the ball.

Schany hit another basket as the Red Raiders cut the Trojans' lead to 62-59 with 6.3 seconds left.  DSU committed a turnover with 4.6 seconds remaining, while NWIA has no timeouts left.  Foss missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer as the Trojans held on to the victory.

NWIA outscored DSU 23-17 in the fourth quarter.  The Red Raiders shot 52.9 percent (9-of-17 field goals) compared to the Trojans 37.5 percent (6-of-16 field goals).

Slattery paced the Trojans with 12 points and stole the ball four times.  Teel added 12 points and pulled down seven rebounds.  She had two steals.  Wasmund tallied 10 points and two steals.  Simmons scored nine points off the bench and collected five rebounds.

Watkins recorded six points and five rebounds for DSU.  Murray scored five points, grabbed three rebounds, and stole the ball twice.

Schany had a game-high 29 points for NWIA.  She was 13-of-20 from the field and produced a double-double with 15 rebounds.  Naig added six points and three rebounds.  Foss scored five points and collected seven rebounds.  Hali Anderson dished out eight assists.

Dakota State shot 35.3 percent from the field (24-of-68 field goals) compared to Northwestern 38.3 percent (23-of-60 field goals).  DSU was 7-of-30 3-pointers to NWIA 3-of-22 3-pointers.  The Red Raiders converted 10-of-12 free-throws (83.3 percent), while the Trojans were 7-of-15 free-throws (46.7 percent).

Northwestern outrebounded Dakota State 50-36 (10-9 on offensive boards).  The Red Raiders committed 20 turnovers in the game to the Trojans 11 turnovers.

DSU outscored NWIA 18-10 in points off turnovers, 28-20 inside the paint, and 4-0 in fast break points.