November 9, 2024

MADISON, S.D. – No. 6 ranked Dakota State (S.D.) faced their third NAIA's Top 10 ranked team in a span of eight days Saturday afternoon, hosting No. 5 ranked Concordia (Neb.) of the Great Plains Athletic Conference.  The Bulldogs spoiled the Trojans' home opener by the score of 64-54 at DSU Fieldhouse.

Dakota State is 2-2 overall record.  Concordia improved to 2-1 overall record. 

The Trojans face another NAIA's Top 10 team Wednesday evening, taking on ranked No. 1 and NAIA's national defending champion Dordt (Iowa) from the GPAC conference.  The game is set for 5:30 p.m. at Sanford Sports Complex (Pentagon) in Sioux Falls, S.D.

(5) Concordia (Neb.) 64, (6) Dakota State (S.D.) 54 – FINAL

Both teams traded leads in the early going of the game, with the lead no greater than four points by the Bulldogs after a 3-pointer by Abby Heemstra for a 9-5 lead with six minutes, five seconds to go.

Bria Wasmund drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Kenzi Simmons) as the Trojans trimmed their deficit to 9-5.  CUNE then went on a 6-0 scoring run to extend their lead to 15-8 after a 3-point play by Kristin Vieselmeyer with 3:18 to go in the first quarter.

Trailing 17-11, Dakota State closed the first period with a 5-0 scoring run.  Angela Slattery hit a 3-pointer as the first quarter expired as the Trojans trailed 17-16. 

Concordia shot 6-of-11 from the field (54.6 percent) compared to Dakota State 6-of-13 field goals (46.2 percent).

After going scoreless for more than one minute in the second quarter, the Trojans regained their lead to 19-17 after a 3-pointer from Wasmund (assisted by Slattery) with 8:34 on the clock. 

CUNE and DSU went through lead changes and ties throughout the second quarter before the Bulldogs made a late surge.  After a 3-point play by Tia Murray to put DSU up 26-25, the Bulldogs shut down the Trojans 9-0 in the final 2:51 of the second quarter to hold a 34-26 halftime lead.

Concordia outscored Dakota State 17-10 in the second quarter.  CUNE shot 7-of-15 field goals (46.7 percent) in the second period and held DSU to 4-of-14 field goals (28.6 percent).

A total of four ties and eight lead changes were recorded in the first half.

The Bulldogs started the third quarter with a double-digit lead, leading as many as 15 points with 3:30 on the clock.  Abby Krieser hit a 3-pointer to put CUNE up 47-32.

Dakota State went on an 11-2 outburst, trimming their deficit to 49-43 after a basket by Slattery with 1:15 left in the third quarter. 

Kendal Brigham closed the third quarter with a layup, snapping their scoring drought and led 51-43.

Both teams scored 17 points in the third period.  CUNE was 6-of-13 from the field compared to DSU 6-of-14 field goals in the third.

CUNE maintained their lead for the rest of the game.  DSU could get no closer than seven points at 57-50 after Cierra Watkins' basket with 5:49 remaining.

Concordia outscored Dakota State 13-11 in the final quarter.

Wasmund scored a career-high 20 points on her 7-of-12 field goals, including 6-of-10 from the 3-point line for Dakota State.  She also had three rebounds and a steal.  Slattery added 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds.  She had three assists, two steals, and a block.

Tabor Teel tallied nine points, five rebounds, and four assists for DSU.  Murray scored seven points, collected five rebounds, and registered three blocks off the bench.  Watkins had six points, three steals, and three assists.

Megan Belt scored 12 points off the bench for Concordia, hitting four 3-pointers.  Juliana Jones scored 10 points.  Abby Krieser had eight points.  Raelyn Kelty had six points, four rebounds, and three assists.  Kendal Brigham dished out seven assists.  Abby Heemstra had seven points and eight rebounds. 

Concordia shot 48 percent from the field (24-of-50 field goals) compared to Dakota State 39.6 percent (21-of-53 field goals).  The Bulldogs drained 10 3-pointers in 19 tries (52.6 percent) and held the Trojans to 8-of-33 3-pointers (24.2 percent).

CUNE was 6-of-7 at the free-throw line to DSU 4-of-5 free-throws.

The Trojans edged the Bulldogs on the boards, outrebounding 30-28.  Both teams scored seven second chance points.

Concordia outscored Dakota State 23-18 in points off turnovers and 30-9 in bench points.