January 11, 2025

JAMESTOWN, N.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) used a huge second half to erase their double-digit deficit Saturday afternoon, rallying back to defeat Jamestown (N.D.) 74-72 in the North Star Athletic Association women's basketball action at Harold Newman Arena.  Trailing by 14 points early in the third quarter, the Trojans stormed back with a 40-24 scoring run to secure their first victory at Newman Arena.

The win also snapped Dakota State's 23-game losing streak with Jamestown, with the last win over UJ on Jan. 10, 2009, at DSU Fieldhouse.  It was also DSU's first ever win in the North Star conference meeting with Jamestown. 

Dakota State earned their first win in Jamestown since Feb. 1, 2008, held at the Civic Center.  Saturday's contest also featured a battle of NAIA's Top 25 nationally ranked teams, where the Trojans earned their fourth win against NAIA's Top 25 teams this season.

DSU – ranked No. 6 in the latest NAIA Top 25 national poll – ballooned their winning streak to 11 games, lifting their overall record to 13-3 and remaining undefeated in the North Star conference play with a 5-0 record.  Jamestown, ranked No. 24 in the national poll, fell to 13-3 overall record and 3-2 NSAA record.  It was the Jimmies' first home setback this season.

Both teams will play their second NSAA conference meeting on Jan. 25 at DSU Fieldhouse.

DSU's 11-game winning streak tied for the fourth best winning streak in the school record book with the 2021-22, 1980-81, and 1983-84 squads.

Dakota State kicks off the second-round robin of North Star Athletic Association play Friday as they stay on the road.  The Trojans visit Bellevue (Neb.) with 5:30 p.m. tip-off at Gordon Lozier Athletic Center in Bellevue, Neb.

(6) Dakota State (S.D.) 74, (24) Jamestown (N.D.) 72 – FINAL

Dakota State and Jamestown traded leads or tied the game on numerous occasions in the first ten minutes of the game.  After Angela Slattery's basket as the Trojans tied the game at 16-16 with less than two minutes to go, the Jimmies closed the first quarter with a 5-0 scoring run.

Samantha Paulsen capped the scoring run with a 3-pointer to give UJ a 21-16 lead by the end of the first period.

DSU shot 7-of-13 from the field in the first period (53.9 percent) compared to UJ 8-of-17 field goals (47.1 percent).

Kate Busek hit a 3-pointer as Jamestown extended their lead to 26-18 with 8:34 on the clock in the second quarter.

Dakota State answered with a pair of 3-pointers from Lilli Mackley and Kenzi Simmons, cutting Jamestown's lead to 26-24 with 6:27 to go before halftime.

The Jimmies then went on a 9-0 scoring run to produce the first double digit lead of the game, highlighted by a layup by Jessika Lofstrom for a 35-24 lead with 3:48 remaining.

Simmons drained a 3-pointer as DSU trimmed UJ's lead to 41-34 with a minute left in the second period.  Kate Cordes closed the first half with a basket as Jamestown led 43-34 by halftime.

UJ outscored DSU 22-18 in the second quarter, thanks to their 9-of-18 field goals (50 percent).  DSU was 7-of-20 from the field in the final ten minutes of the first half (35 percent).

Jamestown started the third quarter with a 5-0 run, sparked by Cordes' basket followed by a 3-pointer by Paulsen for the biggest lead of the game at 48-34 with 8:48 on the clock.

Dakota State snapped their three-and-half minutes scoring drought to start the third quarter, fueling their 22-10 run in the final 6:29. Slattery ignited the scoring run with a 3-pointer, trailing 48-37 with 6:29 to go in the third.

Down 58-53, the Trojans scored the final three points from Tabor Teel as they cut the Jimmies' lead to 58-56 by end of the third quarter.

DSU outscored UJ 22-15 in the third quarter.  The Trojans shot 53.9 percent (7-of-13 field goals) and hit 5-of-8 3-pointers in the first ten minutes of the second half.  The Jimmies were 6-of-15 from the field (40 percent) and 1-of-3 from the 3-point line.

Trailing 60-58, Dakota State erupted for 10 straight points highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers from Teel and Simmons for a 68-60 lead with 4:27 left.

The Trojans posted their first double-digit lead of the game after Bria Wasmund made two straight layups for a 72-62 lead with 2:25 remaining, sparking 16-4 scoring run since the start of the fourth quarter.

UJ mounted a furious late comeback, trimming DSU's lead to 73-70 after a pair of free-throws by Busek with less than 15 seconds left.

The Jimmies committed a foul on the next possession, sending DSU's Cierra Watkins to the free-throw line.  After missing the first free-throw, she hit the second free throw to secure the victory for DSU. 

UJ closed the game with a basket by Paulsen as DSU held on to a 74-72 victory.

Dakota State was 7-of-15 from the field in the final quarter (46.7 percent) and held Jamestown to 6-of-17 field goals (35.3 percent).

Simmons scored 18 points off the bench on her 6-of-8 3-pointers for the Trojans.  She also had three rebounds.  Teel added 16 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.  Wasmund scored 11 points, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out four assists.  She stole the ball three times.

Slattery had nine points, nine rebounds, a block, and a steal for DSU.  Angelina Chapple added a career-high nine points off the bench.  She also had four rebounds.  Mackley scored six points and earned nine rebounds.  She had two steals.

Cordes led the Jimmies with 23 points on her 11-of-23 field goals.  Lofstrom added 13 points and seven rebounds.  Hannah Hagel and Paulsen each had 12 points.  Busek had seven rebounds and three steals. 

Dakota State shot 45.9 percent overall from the field (28-of-61 field goals) compared to Jamestown 43.3 percent (29-of-67 field goals).  The Trojans hit 12 3-pointers in 32 attempts (37.5 percent) to the Jimmies 5-of-20 3-pointers (25 percent). 

UJ was 9-of-10 free-throws (90 percent) to DSU 6-of-12 free-throws (50 percent). 

The Trojans outrebounded the Jimmies 41-33.  DSU outscored UJ 31-18 in bench points.