February 9, 2024

Photo credit by Hillsboro Banner

MAYVILLE, N.D. – Savannah Walsdorf made history Friday evening at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse for No. 9 ranked Dakota State (S.D.), despite falling to No. 12 ranked Mayville State (N.D.) 72-49 in the battle of top two North Star Athletic Association women's basketball teams.  Both teams earned the NSAA season series split, however, the Trojans hold the season series with a 2-1 record (defeated MSU 63-59 in the Dakota Clash last November).

The 13-game winning streak came to an end for Dakota State, who is now 21-5 overall record.  Mayville State earned their fourth straight win to lift their overall record to 19-3. 

MSU used a second quarter surge by outscoring DSU 25-10 to break a 16-16 first quarter tie.

The Trojans hold a one-half game lead (9-1 conference record) over the Comets (8-1 conference record) in the NSAA conference standings.  MSU hosts Bellevue (Neb.) Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.

Dakota State returns home to wrap up their regular-season schedule, hosting Valley City State (N.D.) next Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Dickinson State (N.D.) next Saturday at 3 p.m.  Both games will be at DSU Fieldhouse.

(12) Mayville State (N.D.) 72, (9) Dakota State (S.D.) 49 – FINAL

After trading leads to open the game with Dakota State leading 4-2 after Caitlin Dyer's layup, Mayville State went on a 9-0 scoring run after Jordan Zrust's layup for an 11-4 lead with five minutes and twenty-nine seconds on the clock.

Tabor Teel ended the scoring drought with a layup followed by a 3-pointer from Angela Slattery as the Trojans trimmed their deficit to 11-9 with 4:42 left in the first.

DSU went on a 7-3 scoring run to overtake a 16-14 lead after Teel's basket with less than 35 seconds to go in the first quarter.

Erin Walcker closed the first quarter with a basket as Mayville State knotted the game at 16-16.

Dakota State was 7-of-15 from the field (46.7 percent) compared to Mayville State 7-of-16 field goals (43.8 percent). 

Both teams struggled to find their offense rhythm to start the second quarter.  Savannah Walsdorf hit a basket inside the paint to give DSU a 20-19 lead with 7:02 to go.

The Comets ignited a 9-0 scoring run to open a 28-20 lead after Alex Page's 3-pointer with 3:28 on the clock in the second period.

DSU was held scoreless for four-plus minutes in the second quarter.  Cierra Watkins ended the scoring drought with a basket with 2:52 remaining before halftime (assisted by Olivia Ritter) as the Trojans trailed 28-22.

Mayville State closed the second quarter with a 13-4 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Page for a 41-26 halftime lead.

The Comets outscored the Trojans 25-10 in the second period, thanks to their 10-of-22 from the field (45.5 percent) and 4-of-9 3-pointers.  DSU was 5-of-11 from the field (45.5 percent) and 0-of-2 from the 3-point arc.

MSU maintained their lead between 18- and 24-points in the third quarter.

The highlight in the third quarter when Walsdorf surpassed the DSU's all-time scoring list was when she completed the three-point play, as DSU trailed 55-34 after three quarters.  She surpassed the previous record by Jessi Giles who scored 1,955 career points from 2018-22.

Mayville State outscored Dakota State 14-8 in the third.

Walsdorf and Dyer hit back-to-back 3-pointers as the Trojans trimmed the Comets' lead to 58-40 with 8:34 remaining and could get no closer as MSU secured the victory.

Dakota State shot 71.4 percent in the final quarter (5-of-7 field goals) compared to Mayville State 4-of-11 field goals (36.4 percent).

Walsdorf paced the Trojans with 15 points on her 6-of-7 field goals, 2-of-2 3-pointers and made a free-throw.  She also had four rebounds, tying the all-time rebounds with Julie Fiegen with 954 rebounds from 1982-86.  Walsdorf registered two blocks.

Teel scored 12 points and pulled down seven rebounds off the bench for DSU.  Dyer and Slattery each added five points.  Miakken Vincent dished out four assists.  Ritter added two assists and four rebounds. 

Mertens scored 19 points, stole the ball eight times, and pulled down seven rebounds for Mayville State.  Zrust added a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds.  She had five steals.  Mackenzie Hughes scored 14 points.  Page tallied 12 points off the bench on her 4-of-7 3-pointers.

Mertens and Hughes each contributed three assists for the Comets.

Dakota State shot 45.5 percent overall from the field (20-of-44 field goals) compared to Mayville State 39.1 percent (25-of-64 field goals).  The Comets hit 11 3-pointers in 31 tries (35.5 percent), while the Trojans were 5-of-16 3-pointers.  MSU hit all 11 free-throws compared to DSU 4-of-6 free-throws. 

Mayville State outrebounded Dakota State 36-28.  MSU outscored DSU 12-0 in second chance points.

The Trojans outscored the Comets 19-14 in bench points and 30-20 in points in the paint.