February 3, 2024

FOREST CITY, Iowa – NAIA's nationally ranked No. 9 Dakota State (S.D.) continued their dominance in the North Star Athletic Association women's basketball conference, cruising to an 85-53 road victory at Waldorf (Iowa) Saturday afternoon at Hanson Fieldhouse.  It was the final NSAA regular season meeting for both teams, with the Trojans holding an all-time series record of 18-2.

Dakota State hit their 20^th victory of the season, lifting their overall record to 20-4 and remained undefeated in the North Star conference play at 8-0 record.  It was the fourth straight season that the Trojans had at least 20 wins (currently tied for 10^th most single season victories with the 1983-84, 2002-03, and 2005-06 squads).  Waldorf fell to 6-15 overall record and 1-7 NSAA conference record.

The Trojans extended their winning streak to 12 games, which is the third most consecutive wins in the school record book.

Dakota State returns home Wednesday evening, hosting Bellevue (Neb.) in the North Star Athletic Association action.  Tip-off from the DSU Fieldhouse is set for 5:30 p.m.

(9) Dakota State (S.D.) 85, Waldorf (Iowa) 53 – FINAL

Dakota State kicked off the game with an 8-2 scoring run, highlighted by a back-to-back 3-pointer by Caitlin Dyer.  Waldorf was forced to call the first timeout of the game with seven minutes, seventeen seconds on the clock in the first period.

Leading 8-4, the Trojans made three straight baskets including five straight points from Lilli Mackley and capped with a 3-poitner from Bria Wasmund for a 16-4 lead with 5:26 to go in the first.

After the Warriors hit two straight 3-pointers to cut DSU's lead to 16-10, the Trojans went on a quick 5-0 run after a layup by Miakken Vincent followed by a 3-pointer from Angela Slattery for a 21-10 lead with 3:40 left in the first quarter.

Savannah Walsdorf ended the first quarter with a layup, extending DSU's lead to 24-14.  Dakota State was 47.4 percent from the field in the first quarter (9-of-19 field goals), including 4-of-8 from the 3-point arc.  Waldorf hit 35.3 percent from the field (6-of-17 field goals) and 2-of-4 3-pointers.

The Warriors started the second period with a 4-1 run to trim the Trojans' lead to 25-18 with 8:33 on the clock, where WU could get no closer. 

DSU maintained their lead between eight- and 13-points lead.  Dakota State closed the second quarter with a layup from Tabor Teel for 43-26 halftime lead.

The Trojans outscored the Warriors 19-12 in the second period.  DSU was 7-of-17 from the field (41.2 percent) and held WU to 4-of-17 field goals (23.5 percent).

Dakota State erupted for 31 points and shot a blazing 59.1 percent (13-of-22 field goals) in the third quarter, closing with a 3-pointer from Wasmund for 74-39 lead.  Waldorf scored 13 points and was limited to 29.4 percent from the field (5-of-17 field goals) in the third quarter. 

Olivia Ritter drained a 3-pointer to give the Trojans the biggest lead of the game at 79-41 with less than eight minutes to go.  DSU had the biggest lead of the game twice, at 82-44 with 5:03 left after Teel's free-throw and 85-47 after a free-throw from Angelina Chapple with 1:29 remaining.

Walsdorf scored a game-high 20 points on her 8-of-17 field goals and 3-of-5 from the free-throw line for DSU.  She grabbed eight rebounds, stole the ball six times, and contributed four assists.  Mackley tied her season-high 15 points on her 6-of-10 field goals and made both free-throws.  She added four rebounds and a block.

Teel, Wasmund (tied season-high), and Miakken Vincent (tied career-high) each added nine points for Dakota State.  Teel had four rebounds, while Wasmund added three rebounds.  Slattery tallied six points and collected a game-high 10 rebounds.  She had three assists.  Dyer scored six points and stole the ball twice.  Ritter and Cierra Watkins each had two steals. 

No Waldorf starters scored in double digits in the game.  Brooke Dial scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds off the bench.  Edosa Ogbemudia added eight points and four rebounds.  Sandra Christian and Lizzie Garza each had six points.  Christian dished out four assists. 

Dakota State shot 45.1 percent overall (32-of-71 field goals) and hit 11 3-pointers in 24 tries (47.8 percent).  Waldorf was held to 32.3 percent overall (21-of-65 field goals) and 5-of-17 3-pointers.

DSU converted 10-of-17 from the free-throw line, while WU made all six free-throw attempts.

Dakota State outrebounded Waldorf 40-23.  The Trojans outscored the Warriors 17-4 in second chance points.

DSU scored 42 points inside the paint compared to WU 24 points inside the paint.