February 21, 2024

Photos credits by Cody Welu, Mike Black

MADISON, S.D. – NAIA's nationally-ranked Dakota State (S.D.) held Waldorf (Iowa) to one basket in the first ten minutes and three baskets in the first twenty minutes, cruising to a 99-43 North Star Athletic Association Women's Basketball Postseason Tournament's quarterfinal contest Wednesday evening at DSU Fieldhouse.  It was the last meeting between both DSU and WU as a member of the North Star.

Dakota State, the No. 2 seed in the postseason conference tournament, raised their overall record to 24-5 after their third straight win and their 16^th win in the last 17 games.  Waldorf, No. 7 seed in the conference postseason tournament, concluded their season with a 6-20 overall record.

The Trojans stay home Sunday afternoon as they host No. 6 seed Dickinson State (N.D.), who earned an 84-70 upset victory on the road at Valley City State (N.D.) Wednesday evening, in the NSAA semifinal round.  It will be the third consecutive year that both teams will be meeting in the conference's semifinal round. 

Stay tuned to dsuathletics.com or download the Trojan Nation app for the game time update on Sunday at DSU Fieldhouse.

(10) Dakota State (S.D.) 99, Waldorf (Iowa) 43 – FINAL

Both teams struggled offensively to open the game.  The Trojans opened the game with a 2-0 lead after a pair of free-throws by Angela Slattery with nine minutes, twenty-two seconds on the clock.

The first basket did not come until 7:26 on the clock when WU's Lizzie Garza made an inside basket to tie the game at 2-2.

Dakota State erupted for 24 straight points to close the first quarter, closing with a layup by Savanna Walsdorf for a 26-2 commanding lead.

The Trojans shot 52.9 percent from the field (9-of-17 field goals) in the first period and held the Warriors to 1-of-15 field goals (6.7 percent).

Waldorf ended their scoring drought with a basket from Brooke Dial to start the second quarter (DSU led 26-4 with 9:39 on the clock).

Leading 27-6, DSU went on a 13-0 outburst capped by a 3-pointer from Miakken Vincent (assisted by Morgan Huber) to balloon their lead to 46-6 with 3:07 to go before halftime.

After Dial missed a pair of free-throws with less than five seconds to go in the second, Caitlyn Dyer rebounded the ball and dribbled down the court and hit a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer to give Trojans a 55-12 lead.

DSU shot 47.6 percent from the field in the first twenty minutes (20-of-42 field goals), including 12-of-26 from the 3-point line.  WU was held to 3-of-29 field goals in the first half (10.3 percent) and did not make a single 3-pointer in 11 tries.

Sandra Christian drained a 3-pointer to open the third quarter for Waldorf's first 3-pointer of the game, cutting DSU's lead to 55-15 with 9:48 on the clock.

Dakota State then went on an 8-0 scoring run to widen their lead to 63-15 with 6:21 on the when Lilli Mackley stole the ball followed by a layup. 

Garza hit a pair of free-throws by the end of the third quarter for the Warriors.  DSU led 80-29 after three quarters.

Dakota State posted their biggest lead of the game at the final score of 99-43 after a pair of free-throws by Macey Wathen with less than 18 seconds to go.

The Trojans were 44.4 percent from the field in the second half (16-of-36 field goals) compared to the Warriors 36.7 percent (11-of-30 field goals).

Thirteen different players scored in the game to lead DSU's balanced scoring attack.  Walsdorf poured in 20 points on her 8-of-11 field goals.  She also had nine rebounds, five steals and three assists.  Mackley added 14 points, five rebounds, and three steals. 

Bria Wasmund and Wathen each scored a season-high 11 points off the bench for Dakota State.  Huber tallied eight points, four rebounds, and three assists.  Dyer tallied seven points and three assists.  Tabor Teel grabbed five rebounds and registered three blocks.  Vincent had six points, five rebounds, and two blocks.  Olivia Ritter had seven points and five rebounds. 

Dial paced the Warriors with 19 points and six rebounds.  She stole the ball four times.  Garza added six points and four rebounds.  Christian collected seven rebounds. 

Dakota State shot 46.2 percent overall from the field (36-of-78 field goals) and drained 16 3-pointers in 40 attempts.  Waldorf was 23.7 percent from the field (14-of-59 field goals) and 3-of-20 3-pointers. 

The Trojans were 11-of-17 from the free-throw line.  The Warriors hit 12-of-14 free-throws.

DSU pulled down a season-high 52 rebounds compared to WU 40 rebounds.  The Trojans outscored the Warriors 16-6 in second chance points.

Dakota State outscored Waldorf 17-4 in transition points, 25-5 in points off turnovers, 40-14 inside the paint, and 45-9 in bench points.