February 25, 2024

MADISON, S.D. – No. 2 seed Dakota State (S.D.) hit 11 3-pointers in the first twenty minutes of the game in the North Star Athletic Association Women's Basketball Postseason Tournament's semifinals Sundy afternoon at DSU Fieldhouse, defeating No. 6 seed Dickinson State (N.D.) 72-50 to advance to their fourth straight conference tournament's championship game.

Dakota State, ranked No. 10 in the latest NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, faced Dickinson State in the NSAA semifinal round for the third consecutive year.  The Trojans raised their overall record to 25-5.

The Blue Hawks ended their season at 8-20 overall record.  The Trojans earned their 18^th straight victory in the series meeting with DiSU. 

Dakota State will face top-seeded and No. 12 ranked Mayville State (N.D.), who rolled past fourth-seeded Viterbo (Wis.) 94-62 Sunday afternoon, in the NSAA championship game next Sunday (March 3).  The game will be held at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse in Mayville, N.D., with a 1 p.m. tip-off.

The NSAA postseason tournament's winner will receive the league automatic bid to the NAIA Women's Basketball National Tournament First and Second Rounds on March 15-16.  The sites for the First and Second Rounds will be announced by the NAIA national office on Thursday.

(10) Dakota State (S.D.) 72, Dickinson State (N.D.) 50 – FINAL

Dakota State never trailed in the game, despite being tied once late in the first period.  The Trojans kicked off with five straight points, with a layup by Morgan Huber followed by a 3-pointer from Cailtin Dyer for a 5-0 lead with nine minutes and three seconds on the clock.

DSU hit back-to-back 3-pointers from Lilli Mackley (assisted by Tabor Teel) and Savannah Walsdorf (assisted by Cierra Watkins) to balloon their lead to 15-8 with 5:26 to go in the first quarter.

The Blue Hawks went on a 7-0 scoring run, capped by a 3-pointer from Kaylin Garza to tie the game at 15-15 with 3:08 to go in the first quarter.

Dakota State used a strong closing first period, closing with an 11-0 outburst in the final 2:49.  Teel closed the first quarter with a layup (assisted by Angela Slattery) to give the Trojans a 26-15 lead.

The Trojans were 9-of-18 from the field (50 percent) in the first ten minutes, while the Blue Hawks shot 7-of-13 field goals (53.9 percent).  DSU was 5-of-14 from the 3-point arc, while DiSU was 1-of-3 3-pointers.

Dakota State started the second period by making three straight 3-pointers, fueled by back-to-back 3-pointers from Walsdorf followed by Slattery's 3-pointer for a 35-23 lead with 7:19 on the clock.

DSU maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the second quarter.  Miakken Vincent closed the second quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers to balloon the Trojans' lead to 48-32 by halftime.

Dakota State hit 11-of-25 from the field in the first twenty minutes of the game (44 percent) and held Dickinson State to 2-of-7 3-pointers.  The Trojans shot 45.7 percent from the field (16-of-35 field goals), while the Blue Hawks were 48 percent from the field (12-of-25 field goals).

Tinley Pierson opened the third quarter with a basket as the Blue Hawks trimmed the Trojans' lead to 48-34.  Dakota State answered with an 8-0 scoring run, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Walsdorf for a 56-34 lead with 6:18 left.

The Trojans led 59-40 after three quarters, outscoring the Blue Hawks 11-8 in a low scoring third quarter affair.  DSU was 4-of-18 from the field, while DiSU was 2-of-8 from the field.

Leading 61-42, Dakota State went on an 11-3 scoring run to produce the biggest lead of the game at 72-45 after a 3-pointer from Bria Wasmund with 3:35 remaining.

The Trojans outscored the Blue Hawks 13-10 in the final quarter.

Walsdorf paced Dakota State with 14 points on her 5-of-10 from the field, including 4-of-8 from the 3-point line.  She grabbed six rebounds and dished out a game-high five assists.  She also had a block and a steal.  Slattery added 13 points, four rebounds, three assists, and three steals.  Dyer tallied 12 points, two assists, and two steals.

Mackley and Huber each scored seven points for the Trojans.  Huber contributed three assists and stole the ball three times.  Mackley had two blocks.  Cierra Watkins registered four steals.  Vincent and Wasmund each scored six points off the bench.    Wasmund had a season-high five rebounds and recorded three steals.  Teel had five points, five rebounds, and two blocked shots. 

Samantha Oase poured in a game-high 22 points for Dickinson State.  She was 9-of-14 from the field and hit all four free-throws.  She had five rebounds and three blocks.  Katherine Fox added seven points, four rebounds, four assists, a block, and a steal.  Kaylin Garza scored five points off the bench.

Dakota State shot 34.8 percent overall from the field (24-of-69 field goals) compared to Dickinson State 41.9 percent (18-of-43 field goals).  The Trojans drained 16 3-pointers in 44 tries (36.4 percent) compared to the Blue Hawks 3-of-9 3-pointers. 

DSU was 8-of-12 from the free-throw line.  DiSU hit all 11 free-throw attempts. 

The Blue Hawks outrebounded the Trojans 39-34.  The Trojans outscored the Blue Hawks 12-8 in second chance points. 

Dickinson State committed 30 turnovers in the game compared to Dakota State 15 turnovers.  The Trojans stole the ball 19 times to the Blue Hawks four steals.  Dakota State outscored Dickinson State 15-10 in points off turnovers.
 

2024 North Star Athletic Association Men's & Women's Indoor Track & Field recognition