December 14, 2024

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) used a 29-11 second quarter outburst to pull away past Mayville State (N.D.) in the battle of NAIA Women's Basketball Top 25 teams, earning a 97-71 North Star Athletic Association home victory Saturday afternoon at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans and the Comets were the top two teams in the league for the past three seasons.

Dakota State, who climbed to No. 6 in the latest national poll, ballooned their winning streak to five games to lift their overall record to 7-3 (1-0 NSAA conference record).  Mayville State, who fell to No. 22 in the poll and dropped their conference opener Friday at Bellevue (Neb.), dropped their overall record to 8-4 and 0-2 record in the league.

The Trojans earned their 62^nd home victory in the last 67 home contests at DSU Fieldhouse since Jan. 2020.  DSU earned their third victory over NAIA's Top 25 nationally ranked teams this season.  It was the seventh straight home victory for DSU over MSU since Nov. 20, 2020.

Prior to the game, the Trojan women's basketball team honored Savannah Walsdorf with numerous accomplishments such as all-time records in points, rebounds, and steals.

Dakota State concludes their three-game home stand Sunday afternoon in another North Star contest versus Valley City State (N.D.).  The game is set for 3 p.m.

(6) Dakota State (S.D.) 97, (22) Mayville State (N.D.) 71 – FINAL

Dakota State kicked of the game four straight points in the first one-plus minute of the game, earning a 4-0 lead after a layup from Angela Slattery and Tabor Teel.

Both teams traded leads four times and tied the game once in the early first period.  Leading 14-12, the Trojans scored six straight points, sparked by three straight points from Olivia Ritter and capped by a 3-pointer from Bria Wasmund.  DSU led 20-12 with 2:36 to go in the first quarter.

Berkley Neubauer drained a 3-pointer as the Comets trimmed DSU's lead to 23-19 by the end of the first quarter.  The Trojans were 8-of-17 from the field (47.1 percent) and held MSU to 8-of-21 field goals (38.1 percent) in the first ten minutes of the game.

Dakota State erupted for a 13-2 scoring run to start the second quarter, thanks to their 5-of-6 field goals.  Slattery capped the scoring run after completing a 3-point play for a 37-21 lead with 7:31 on the clock.

The Trojans ballooned their scoring run to 19-2 as Tia Murray hit a basket for a 43-21 lead with less than four minutes to go before intermission.

Wasmund nailed down a layup to close the first half with a 52-30 lead for Dakota State. 

DSU was 11-of-21 from the field (52.4 percent) in the second quarter and held MSU to 3-of-17 field goals (17.7 percent).

Dakota State led as many as 25 points in the third quarter, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Lilli Mackley (assisted by Kenzi Simmons) for a 63-38 lead with 6:21 on the clock.

The Trojans led 72-55 after three quarters, capped a 3-point play from Slattery.

MSU outscored DSU 25-20 in the third quarter.  The Comets were 9-of-20 from the field, while the Trojans were -of-20 field goals.

Mayville State started the fourth quarter by making three straight 3-pointers to spark their 9-2 scoring run, trimming their deficit to 74-64 with 8:27 remaining after a 3-pointer from Neubauer.

Dakota State answered by going 7-of-8 from the field in a span of nearly five minutes, including hitting four consecutive 3-pointers.  Mackley drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Slattery) to fuel the Trojans' 20-2 monstrous scoring run for a 94-66 with 3:16 left.

Molli Thornton made a basket to give DSU their biggest lead of the game at 97-68 with 1:07 left.

The Trojans outscored the Comets 25-16 in the final ten minutes of the game, thanks to their blazing 61.5 percent from the field (8-of-13 field goals) and 5-of-8 3-pointers.  MSU was 6-of-15 from the field and 4-of-10 from the 3-point arc.

Slattery poured in a career-high 27 points on her 11-of-19 field goals for the Trojans.  She produced a double-double with 10 rebounds.  She also had three assists and two steals.  Mackley added a double-double of 16 points and collected a career-high 10 rebounds.  She added four steals and two assists.  Teel had 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists, a block, and a steal.

Wasmund scored 12 points and contributed five assists for DSU.  Simmons scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds off the bench.  Murray had nine points and six rebounds. 

Hannah Stark led the Comets with 24 points.  She was 9-of-11 from the field, including 6-of-7 from the 3-point line.  Mackenzie Hughes added 15 points and four assists.  Jes Mertens had seven points, five rebounds, five assists, three blocks, and two steals.  Alex Page added seven points and eight rebounds.  Annika Rierson, Misti Zempel, and Neubauer each had six points.

Dakota State shot 47.9 percent overall from the field (34-of-71 field goals) and 12-of-34 from the 3-point arc.  Mayville State was held to 35.6 percent (26-of-73 field goals).  The Comets hit 12 3-pointers in 39 attempts.

DSU converted 17 free throws in 22 attempts (77.3 percent), while MSU was 7-of-9 free throws (77.8 percent).

The Trojans outrebounded the Comets 49-35.  Dakota State outscored Mayville State 44-24 inside the paint, 14-7 in second chance points, 14-7 in points off turnovers, and 28-12 in bench points.