February 23, 2024

This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Feb. 22, 2024)—The Dakota State University Trojan women's basketball team (24-5 overall record, ranked No. 10 in the latest NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll) continues their postseason action at home Sunday afternoon.  The Trojans extend their home stand to their fourth straight, hosting the North Star Athletic Association Women's Basketball Postseason Tournament's semifinal game at DSU Fieldhouse (1302 N. Washington Ave.). 

The second-seeded Trojans host sixth-seeded Dickinson State (N.D.) (8-19 overall record) with a tip-off at 1 p.m.  This will be the third straight year that both Dakota State and Dickinson State will be meeting in the North Star's conference postseason semifinal round (last two semifinal meetings in Watertown, S.D.). 

Dakota Sate breezed past No. 7 seed Waldorf (Iowa) in the North Star Athletic Association's quarterfinal round on Feb. 21.  The Trojans held the Warriors to one basket after the first quarter and three baskets after two quarters, paving the way to a 99-43 rout. 

Dickinson State highlighted the NSAA quarterfinal round with an 84-70 upset victory over No. 3 seed Valley City State (N.D.) on Feb. 21.  The Blue Hawks were 0-2 record during the season against the Vikings and pulled out for the victory, earning a spot in the NSAA semifinals for the third straight year.

Dakota State swept the NSAA season series meeting with Dickinson State, winning 96-55 in Dickinson, N.D., on Jan. 13, and most recently on Feb. 17 by the score of 93-59.

Up Next:  Sunday's semifinal winners will earn a spot to the NSAA Women's Basketball Tournament's Championship game at the highest remaining seed on Sunday, March 3.  Time and location will be announced at a later time.  Top-seeded Mayville State (N.D.) hosts No. 4 seed Viterbo (Wis.) in the other semifinal game.

This Week's Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) is seeking for their fourth consecutive appearance to the North Star Athletic Association postseason tournament's championship game.
+ The Trojans defeated Dickinson State (N.D.) in the previous two North Star Athletic Association semifinals meetings, both held at Civic Arena in Watertown, S.D.  DSU won the most recent semifinal meeting by the score of 82-37 on Feb. 25, 2023. 
+ Dakota State averaged 83.5 points per game in the two NSAA semifinals meetings with Dickinson State.  The Trojans held the Blue Hawks to 51.0 points per game in those two meetings.
+ The Trojans scored at least 80 points in the last three home games, including three times scoring more than 90 points.  DSU produced its season-high 106 points during their 106-49 victory over Valley City State (N.D.) on Feb. 16.
+ Dakota State is 13-1 record at home this season, including an undefeated 7-0 home record against NSAA opponents (including Feb 21 victory versus Waldorf, Iowa).  Dickinson State is 3-8 record on the road, 2-5 record against North Star conference foes (defeated Waldorf and Valley City State).
+ The Trojans had won 17 consecutive meetings with the Blue Hawks since Jan. 5, 2018. 
+ Dakota State is 3-1 record with Dickinson State in the NSAA postseason, including 2-0 record in the semifinals round.
+ DSU had won 49 times in the last 53 home contests at DSU Fieldhouse, a winning percentage of 92.5 percent.

Noteworthy...
DSU'S HOME COOKING:  Dakota State (S.D.) nearly averaged 100 points per game in their last three home games at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans scored at least 80 points for four consecutive home games, and ten times this season.  DSU is averaging 85.3 points per game this season at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans shot 46.5 percent from the field (440-of-946 field goals), including hitting 165 3-pointers at home this season.  Dakota State is also averaging 18.2 assists per game at home (14 total home games).

TROJANS' OFFENSIVE ATTACK BY MONTH:  Dakota State's offense had increased each month since November.  The Trojans averaged 78.0 points per game during eight November contests and ballooned to 80.3 points per game during seven December games.  During the month of January, DSU averaged 81.9 points per game in seven contests and skyrocketed to 84.3 points per game in seven February contests.  Dakota State is averaging 81.0 points per game so far this season, which is currently the fourth best single season team record (83.3 points per game—school record in 2021-22). 

DSU RECORDS:  Savannah Walsdorf is currently fifth in the DSU women's basketball single-season record book for most points with 489 points prior to Sunday's game.  In addition, she also ties for the fourth most single season record steals with 93 steals with Courtney Menning in 2022-23.  Walsdorf hit 191 field goals this season, which is fourth most field goals made in the school record book.  She is currently the school's all-time scoring leader with 2,027 points, as well as all-time rebounding leader with 974 rebounds, and all-time steals with 398 steals.

TROJANS IN THE NSAA RANKS:  According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Friday, Dakota State leads the North Star Athletic Association in scoring with 81.0 points per game and second in scoring defense with 61.1 points per game.  The Trojans lead the league in field goal percentage of 45.7 percent, field goals made with 866 field goals, and 3-point field goals made with 317 3-pointers.  Tabor Teel leads the conference in field goal percentage of 57.9 percent, while Savannah Walsdorf is third with 53.7 percent.  Walsdorf is second in the NSAA with 16.9 points per game, and second in 3-point field goal percentage.

(10) DSU routs Waldorof (Iowa) in final NSAA meeting
Madison, S.D. (Feb. 21, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) rolled past Waldorf (Iowa) 99-43 in the final ever meeting as the North Star Athletic Association member in the women's basketball postseason quarterfinal round at DSU Fieldhouse. 

After being tied at 2-2 to start the game, the Trojans erupted for 24 straight points in the final seven-plus minutes to earn a 26-2 lead after the first quarter and never trailed.  DSU led 52-12 by halftime, thanks to a 3-point shot at the halftime buzzer by Caitlin Dyer.  The Trojans led 80-29 after three quarters.

Thirteen different players scored in the game for Dakota State, led by Savannah Walsdorf with 20 points.  She had nine rebounds, five steals, and three assists.  Lilli Mackley added 14 points, five rebounds, and three steals.  Bria Wasmund and Macey Wathen each scored a season-high 11 points off the bench.  Morgan Huber had eight points, four rebounds, and three assists. 
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The Trojans shot 46.2 percent from the field (36-of-78 field goals) and hit 16 3-pointers in the game.

NSAA Women's Basketball Postseason Quarterfinals Recap
Madison, S.D. (Feb. 21, 2024)—No. 6 seed Dickinson State (N.D.) highlighted the 2024 North Star Athletic Association Women's Basketball Postseason Tournament quarterfinals with an 84-70 road upset victory at No. 3 seed Valley City State (N.D.).

Two other higher seeds advanced to the North Star Athletic Association semifinals round after their home victory.  No. 2 seed Dakota State (S.D.) rolled past No. 7 seed Waldorf (Iowa) 99-43 at DSU Fieldhouse, while No. 4 seed Viterbo (Wis.) held off No. 5 seed Bellevue (Neb.) 72-63 in La Crosse, Wis. 

The top-seeded Mayville State (N.D.) received a bye in the quarterfinal round and will host Viterbo in the semifinals on Sunday afternoon in Mayville, N.D.  Dakota State hosts Dickinson State in the other semifinals, with the winners advancing to the NSAA postseason tournament's championship game on Sunday, March 3 at the highest remaining seed.     

The winner of the NSAA postseason tournament will receive an automatic bid to the NAIA Women's Basketball National Tournament First and Second Rounds on March 15-16.

A look back to Dakota State-Dickinson State series
Madison, S.D. (Feb. 22, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) had swept the season series with Dickinson State (N.D.) for almost seven straight seasons, excluding Sunday's contest at DSU Fieldhouse. 

The Trojans ballooned their winning streak to 17 straight victories in the series meeting with the Blue Hawks since Jan. 5, 2018.  Dakota State scored more than 80 points 14 times during the 17-game winning streak in the series meeting.   

The Trojans swept the NSAA season series meeting this season, scoring more than 90 points in both meetings this season.  DSU defeated Dickinson State at Scott Gymnasium by the score of 96-55 on Jan. 13 and most recently 93-59 victory at DSU Fieldhouse on Feb. 17. 
 
Dakota State is 3-1 all-time record in the North Star postseason meetings, despite losing in the quarterfinal round on Feb. 22, 2017 by the score of 59-45 in Dickinson, N.D.  The Trojans earned their first NSAA postseason win over the Blue Hawks on Feb. 26, 2020, and extended their winning streak with a pair of victories in Watertown, S.D., in the past two seasons in the NSAA postseason semifinals.

Dakota State had won eight straight home meetings with Dickinson State since Jan. 5, 2018.

2023-24 Dakota State Women's Basketball Team Leaders

• Points/Points Per Game:  Savannah Walsdorf - 489 points (16.8 points per game)
• Field Goal Percentage:  Tabor Teel - 57.9 percent (110-of-190 field goals)
• 3-point Field Goal Percentage:  Savannah Walsdorf - 42.3 percent (60-of-142 3-point field goals)
• Free-Throw Percentage:  Caitlin Dyer - 80.0 percent (32-of-40 free-throws)
• Rebounds:  Tabor Teel - 197 rebounds - (6.8 rebounds per game)
• Assists/Assists Per Game:  Savannah Walsdorf - 62 assists (2.1 assists per game)
• Steals/Steals Per Game:  Savannah Walsdorf - 93 steals (3.2 steals per game)
• Blocked Shots:  Tabor Teel - 58 blocks (2.0 blocks per game)