December 17, 2024

This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Dec. 17, 2024)—The Dakota State University Trojan women's basketball team (8-3 overall record, 2-0 North Star Athletic Association record, ranked No. 6 in the NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll) closes out their 2024 slate with an exhibition contest with NCAA Division I and a tournament in Florida this week.

The Trojans step aside their regular-season schedule Tuesday evening as they visit NCAA Division I South Dakota State (9-2 overall record).  The game is set for 7 p.m. at First Bank & Trust Arena (1165 Jackrabbit Ave.) in Brookings, S.D.  Like the Trojans, the Jackrabbits are currently on the six-game winning streak.

Dakota State then makes a trip to Lake Wales, Fla., for the Warner (Fla.) Classic this weekend.  The Trojans take on Evangel (Mo.) (5-6 overall record) of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Friday afternoon.  DSU concludes their 2024 calendar year Saturday afternoon against host team Warner (5-5 overall record).  Both games are set for 2 p.m. (Eastern Time)/1 p.m. (Central Time) at Turner Athletic Center in Lake Wales.
 
DSU concluded their 2024 home slate by going 3-0 record last week, defeating NCAA Division III North Central (Minn.) 102-57 on Dec. 9.  The Trojans opened their North Star conference play with victories over Mayville State (N.D.) 97-71 on Dec. 14 and rallied back for a 67-61 victory over Valley City State (N.D.) on Dec. 15.

South Dakota State is coming off from their 76-48 win over Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) on Dec. 11 and 68-53 victory over Northern Iowa on Dec. 14.  Evangel had won the last three games, defeating Ottawa (Kan.) 83-74 on Dec. 11 and York (Neb.) 83-79 in KCAC conference play.  Warner defeated Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) 77-41 on Dec. 7.
 
Up Next:  Dakota State returns to action in the New Year 2025 on Saturday, Jan. 4.  The Trojans prepare for a busy North Star conference schedule, hosting Bellevue (Neb.) at DSU Fieldhouse with a 3 p.m. tip-off.

This Week's Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) is playing their third exhibition contest this season against NCAA schools.  After Tuesday's game, the Trojans had played all three divisions in NCAA (NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, and NCAA Division III).
+ DSU will play at South Dakota State for the first time since Nov. 24, 1992, where it was a former Frost Arena.  The all-time series began on March 6, 1967.
+ The Trojans face an opponent from the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference for the second straight year on Friday afternoon versus Evangel (Mo.).  DSU hosted Kansas Wesleyan last season at DSU Fieldhouse.
+ Dakota State returns to Lake Wales, Fla., for the first time since Dec. 31, 2019, where they competed in the same Warner (Fla.) Classic. The Royals won the previous meeting.
+ The Trojans conclude their non-conference schedule this weekend in Florida before returning to action in 2025 with 13 North Star Athletic Association contests remaining.
+ Dakota State is 3-0 record on the road and 1-2 record on neutral site this season.
+ The Trojans are averaging 88.7 points per game during the month of December.
+ DSU is averaging 82.0 points per game in the North Star Athletic Association contests after their 2-0 season opening conference weekend on Dec. 14-15.

Noteworthy...
TROJANS IN EXHIBITION GAMES:  Dakota State is playing their third and final exhibition game on their 2024-25 schedule on Tuesday at South Dakota State.  The Trojans faced a pair of NCAA Division II's Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) members, falling short to Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.) 95-92 in overtime thriller in the season opener on Oct. 25.  DSU dropped an 89-66 contest at Northern State (S.D.) on Oct. 28.  The Trojans are playing at South Dakota State's arena for the first time since Nov. 24, 1992.

DSU PREPARES FOR BUSY NSAA SCHEDULE:  Dakota State prepares for a busy 2025 slate with all conference contests remaining in the North Star Athletic Association.  After going 2-0 record on their season opening weekend on Dec. 14-15, the Trojans will complete their first round-robin conference schedule at home versus Bellevue (Neb.) on Jan. 4, followed by a pair of road contests at Dickinson State (N.D.) and Jamestown (N.D.) on the weekend of Jan. 10-11.  The second round of the conference schedule is slated for Jan. 17 at Bellevue. 

DAKOTA STATE RETURNS TO NO. 6 RANKING:  DSU returns to No. 6 ranking in the third edition of the 2024-25 NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll on Dec. 11.  It was the first time since the preseason poll that the Trojans were ranked No. 6, thanks to their NAIA national quarterfinalist for the third time in the last four seasons (national semifinalist in 2022-23). The Trojans had faced three teams that were ranked inside the NAIA's Top 10 in the first four games of the season, including a nailbiter 79-76 setback to No. 1 ranked and national defending champion Dordt (Iowa) on Nov. 13 in Sioux Falls, S.D.  DSU is 4-3 record against teams that are ranked or received votes in the NAIA's Top 25 this season.

2024-25 DAKOTA STATE JUNIOR VARSITY TEAM UPDATES:  The 2024-25 Dakota State University Trojan women's basketball junior varsity team closed out their 2024 slate with a 3-2 record.  The Trojans return to action on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, at DSU Fieldhouse versus Mount Marty (S.D.).  Dakota State had added another contest to their schedule on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, as they host Minnesota West CC at DSU Fieldhouse with a 7 p.m. tip-off.

(6) Trojans roll past (22) Comets in NSAA opener
Madison, S.D. (Dec. 14, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) used a 29-11 second quarter outburst over Mayville State (N.D.), rolling to a 97-71 North Star Athletic Association season opening victory at DSU Fieldhouse.  

The Trojans held on to a 23-19 lead after the first quarter over the Comets.  DSU erupted for a 19-2 scoring run to start the second quarter and ballooned their lead to 52-30 by halftime.  Dakota State lead as many as 25 points in the game and led 72-55 after three quarter.  DSU outscored MSU 25-16 in the final quarter to secure the victory.

Angela Slattery poured in a career-high 27 points on her 11-of-19 field goals.  She had a double-double with 10 rebounds.  Lilli Mackley also had a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds.  Tabor Teel scored 14 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and dished out three assists.  Bria Wasmund had 12 points and contributed five assists.  Kenzi Simmons tallied 11 points and six rebounds off the bench.

DSU shot 47.9 percent from the field (34-of-71 FGs) compared to MSU 35.6 percent (26-of-73 FGs).

(6) DSU storms back to defeat Valley City State
Madison, S.D. (Dec. 15, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) roared back from 15 points down early in the third quarter and eight points behind in the middle of the fourth quarter with Valley City State (N.D.) in the North Star Athletic Association action at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans closed the game with a 17-3 outburst to secure a 67-61 victory to go 2-0 record in the league.

VCSU held a slim 13-10 lead and outscored the Trojans 21-13 to balloon their lead to 34-23 by halftime.  DSU outscored the Vikings 17-9 in the third quarter to cut their deficit to 43-40.  Dakota State rallied back in the fourth quarter, outscoring VCSU 27-18 to secure a six-point victory.

Tia Murray scored a season-high 18 points on her 7-of-19 field goals and made all four free throws for Dakota State.  She also registered three blocks and grabbed seven rebounds.  Bria Wasmund added 11 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.  Angela Slattery had 11 points and nine rebounds.  Kenzi Simmons had 12 points and five assists.

VCSU shot 41.8 percent from the field compared to DSU 31.9 percent.  DSU hit 11 3-pointers in the game.

Trojans in the NSAA conference ranks
Madison, S.D. (Dec. 18, 2024)—According to the NAIA-PrestoStats website as of Tuesday, Dakota State's (S.D.) Tabor Teel ranks second in the North Star Athletic Association with 8.6 rebounds per game.  She also ranks ninth in the conference with 13.0 points per game. 

Tia Murray leads the North Star conference in field goal percentage, hitting 67.9 percent of shots (31-of-46 field goals) this season for the Trojans.  She also leads the league with 18 total blocks.

DSU's Bria Wasmund tallied 43 assists prior to this week's contests, which is third most assists in the North Star Athletic Association.

Dakota State is averaging 75.9 points per game this season, which is the third best scoring average in the conference.  The Trojans are second in the league with 112 3-pointers made. 

DSU averages 38.2 rebounds per game, ranking the second best rebounding in the North Star conference.  The Trojans hold a plus 2.3 rebounding margin this season.

Dakota State averages 15.6 assists per game, the second best assists average in the NSAA conference.  The Trojans also holds the least turnovers in the North Star conference.  The Trojans tied for the best blocks average in the league, producing a 3.3 blocks average per game.

2024-25 Dakota State Women's Basketball Team Leaders

• Points/Points Per Game:  Tabor Teel - 143 points (13.0 points per game)
• Field Goal Percentage:  Tia Murray - 67.4 percent (31-of-46 field goals)
• 3-point Field Goal Percentage:  Tabor Teel - 38.9 percent (7-of-18 3-point field goals)
• Free-Throw Percentage:  Angela Slattery - 90.9 percent (20-of-22 free-throws)
• Rebounds:  Tabor Teel - 95 rebounds (8.6 rebounds per game)
• Assists/Assists Per Game:  Bria Wasmund - 43 assists (3.9 assists per game)
• Steals/Steals Per Game:  Cierra Watkins - 23 steals (2.1 steals per game)
• Blocked Shots:  Tia Murray - 18 blocks (1.6 blocks per game)