March 16, 2024

MADISON, S.D. – Fourth-seeded Dakota State (S.D.) used a balanced scoring attack Saturday evening with six players scoring in double digits, rolling past No. 12 seed Indiana South Bend 85-47 to win the NAIA Women's Basketball National Tournament First & Second Rounds in the Madison, S.D., four-team pod.  The victory produced a return trip to the final site at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa, for the second straight year and their third time in the past four seasons.

Dakota State, ranked No. 9 in the NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, lifted their overall record to 27-6.  Indiana South Bend, a member of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference, finished their season with an overall record of 31-2.  The Titans won both the regular season and postseason tournament titles in the CCAC conference. 

DSU went 3-0 record this season against Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC), defeating Saint Xavier (Ill.) and Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) during the regular season.  The Trojans averaged 85.5 points per game during the NAIA Women's Basketball National Tournament First & Second Rounds, finishing their home record with an impressive 16-1 record. 

It was the final home contest for three Trojan seniors – Morgan Huber, Savannah Walsdorf, and Miakken Vincent.  DSU had won 59 times in the last 63 home games since Jan. 22, 2020. 

Dakota State will face No. 1 seed Indiana Wesleyan in a rematch of last year's NAIA national tournament's quarterfinals.  The Round of 16 in the Cramer Quadrant is set for a 6 p.m. tip-off on Thursday evening in Sioux City, Iowa.  The Trojans defeated the Wildcats in last year's meeting in the national tournament, putting DSU in their first ever NAIA's Fab Four in school history.

It is the first time in north Star Athletic Association history that there will be two teams playing in the final site of the NAIA Women' Basketball National Tournament next weekend (co-NSAA regular-season champion Mayville State, N.D., will face No. 1 seed Dordt, Iowa, in the Liston Quadrant on Friday evening at 6 p.m.). 

(9) Dakota State (S.D.) 85, Indiana South Bend 47 – FINAL

Dakota State never trailed in the forty minutes basketball game as they opened with a 3-pointer from Caitlin Dyer (assisted by Walsdorf), sparking an 8-0 scoring run.  Tabor Teel hit a layup, followed by a 3-pointer from Cierra Watkins for an eight-point lead by the Trojans with seven minutes and six seconds left.

The Titans missed four field goals and committed five turnovers in the first five-plus minutes of the game.  Tenleigh Phelps snapped ISB's scoring drought with a basket with 5:33 on the clock (DSU led 8-2).

DSU would close the first period with a 12-4 scoring run, capped by Walsdorf's layup for 20-6 lead. 

The Trojans shot a blazing 61.5 percent from the field in the first ten minutes (8-of-13 field goals), including 4-of-9 from the 3-point line.  The Titans were held to 25 percent from the field (3-of-12 field goals).

Dakota State drained four 3-pointers to kick off the second quarter, sparking a 14-6 scoring run.  Walsdorf hit a 3-pointer (assisted by Vincent) to give the Trojans a 34-12 lead with 7:12 on the clock.

With DSU leading 38-18, Indiana South Bend went on an 8-0 scoring run capped by Sullivan Kessler's basket with 1:13 left (DSU led 38-26).

Huber made a layup as the Trojans grabbed a 40-26 halftime lead.

Dakota State was 16-of-34 from the field in the first twenty minutes (47.1 percent) and held Indiana South Bend to 12-of-34 field goals (35.3 percent). 

The Trojans outscored the Titans 29-12 in the third quarter, thanks to their 9-of-18 field goals with 6-of-11 coming from the 3-point line.  ISB was held to 22.7 percent from the field (5-of-22 field goals) and 1-of-4 from the 3-point line.

Walsdorf hit a pair of free-throws to balloon Dakota State's lead to 69-38 after three quarters.

The Trojans produced the biggest lead of the game at 85-44 after a free-throw by Molli Thornton with 2:10 to go in the game.

DSU outscored ISB 16-9 in the final quarter.

Teel scored 12 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and registered four blocks off the bench for Dakota State.  Angela Slattery, Lilli Mackley, and Olivia Ritter each added 11 points.  Dyer and Huber each added 10 points.  Dyer contributed five assists.  Vincent dished out three assists and grabbed three rebounds. 

Walsdorf had eight points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and tied a season-high six assists for the Trojans.  She added three steals. 

Phelps led the Titans with 14 points and seven rebounds.  Maddie Gard had a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds.  She dished out five assists.  Katie Gard added 10 points and five rebounds.  Jazmen Watts had six rebounds.  Emma Fisher collected seven rebounds.  Kessler scored nine points and pulled down five rebounds off the bench.

Dakota State shot 46.3 percent from the field (31-of-67 field goals) compared to Indiana South Bend 29.0 percent (20-of-69 field goals).

The Trojans drained 16 3-poitners in 43 attempts, while holding the Titans to 2-of-14 3-pointers.

DSU converted 7-of-13 free-throws compared to ISB 5-of-6 free-throws.

The Titans outrebounded the Trojans 48-41. 

Dakota State outscored Indiana South Bend 17-6 in fast-break points, 22-4 in points off turnovers, 30-24 inside the pain, 12-9 in second chance points, and 35-9 in bench points.
 

First PREMIER Bank & PREMIER Bankcard - Tournament Sponsor

DSU Baseball All-Time Strikeouts record holder - JD Kirchner