March 21, 2024

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Dakota State (S.D.) took advantage on boards, outrebounding Indiana Wesleyan 46-29 to earn a 76-65 NAIA Women's Basketball National Tournament Round of 16 victory Thursday evening at Tyson Events Center.  It was a rematch of last year's national tournament quarterfinals, where the Trojans now own a 2-0 all-time series record with the Wildcats (DSU won the first meeting last season 71-70 in the national quarterfinals). 

Dakota State, ranked No. 9 in the final NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll and No. 4 seed in the Cramer quadrant of the national tournament, raised their overall record to 28-6.  Indiana Wesleyan, a member of the Crossroads League, No. 4 ranked in the national poll, and No. 1 seed the quadrant, ended their season at 29-5 overall record.

DSU awaits the winner of No. 6 seed Loyola (La.) and No. 2 seed Carroll (Mont.) in the national quarterfinals Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.  The NAIA national tournament continues with four more Round of 16 contests Friday.

(9) Dakota State (S.D.) 76, (4) Indiana Wesleyan 65 – FINAL

Indiana Wesleyan opened the game with a 2-0 lead after Lilli Frasure's basket with nine minutes and one second on the clock.  Dakota State answered with a 3-pointer by Caitlin Dyer for a 3-2 lead on the next possession with 8:40 to go in the first quarter.

The Wildcats held the Trojans scoreless for nearly five minutes, grabbing a 10-3 lead with 4:34 left in the first period.
DSU shook off their slow start by roaring back with a 13-6 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Lilli Mackley to knot the game at 16-16 with less than 35 seconds to go in the first.

IWU ended the first quarter with a 19-16 lead after a 3-point play by Taylor Folkema.

The Trojans shot 33.3 percent in the first quarter (5-of-15 field goals) compared to the Wildcats 47.1 percent (8-of-17 field goals).

Both teams struggled to score offensively in the second quarter.  Rylie Parker drained a 3-pointer as the Wildcats led 25-19 with 6:36 to go before halftime.

Dakota State closed the second quarter with a 14-5 outburst, capped by Cierra Watkins making the final three free-throws to earn a 33-30 halftime lead. 

The Trojans outscored the Wildcats 17-11 in the second quarter, thanks to their 6-of-10 field goals (60 percent).  Indiana Wesleyan was held to 4-of-15 from the field in the final ten minutes of the first half (26.7 percent).

After starting the third quarter with a slow start by both teams, IWU regained their lead at 37-36 by Jordan Reid's basket with 7:03 on the clock.

Dakota State answered with a 9-0 scoring run, highlighted by Morgan Huber's basket (assisted by Dyer) for a 45-37 lead with 2:43 left in the third.

The Wildcats closed the third quarter with a 9-3 scoring to trim the Trojans' lead to 48-46 after Frasure's free-throw. 
Reid kicked off the fourth period with a 3-point play to give Indiana Wesleyan a 49-48 lead with 9:42 remaining.

Mackley sparked DSU's 5-0 quick run with a 3-pointer followed by Huber's basket to regain their lead at 53-49 with 8:11 left.

Dakota State maintained their lead for the rest of the game, securing the victory.  Indiana Wesleyan could get no closer than two points at 53-51 with less than eight minutes to go.

Bria Wasmund hit a 3-pointer (assisted by Angela Slattery) to balloon DSU's lead to 60-54 with six minutes to go in the game.

Dakota State led 67-60 with 1:14 left, outscoring Indiana Wesleyan 9-5 to close the game.  Mackley converted 7-of-8 from the free-throw line, while Dyer made both free-throws in the final forty seconds of the game.

The Trojans outscored the Wildcats 28-19 in the final ten minutes of the game.

Mackley scored a season-high 16 points for Dakota State.  She was 7-of-10 from the free-throw line.  She grabbed seven rebounds.  Tabor Teel tallied 13 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks off the bench.  Huber scored 12 points.  Watkins scored 12 points on her 4-of-5 field goals and 3-of-4 field goals.  She dished out three assists. 

Dyer had eight points and four rebounds for the Trojans.  Wasmund scored eight points off the bench.  Miakken Vincent, who was honored as the NAIA Champions of Character recipient before the game, tied career-highs of six rebounds and four assists.  Olivia Ritter pulled down seven rebounds. 

Reid poured in 25 points on her 10-of-19 field goals and 5-of-7 free-throws for Indiana Wesleyan.  She had four assists.  Rylie Parker added 14 points (4-of-7 3-pointers).  Frasure had 10 points and four assists.  Taylor Folkema and Klair Merrell each had four rebounds. 

Dakota State shot 44.6 percent from the field (25-of-56 field goals) and held Indiana Wesleyan to 37.5 percent (24-of-64 field goals).  The Trojans hit 11 3-pointers in 26 attempts (42.3 percent), while the Wildcats hit 7-of-24 3-pointers (29.2 percent).

DSU converted 15-of-20 free-throws to IWU 10-of-15 free-throws.