January 25, 2025

MADISON, S.D. – NAIA's nationally ranked Dakota State (S.D.) used a fast start in the North Star Athletic Association women's basketball action Saturday afternoon at DSU Fieldhouse, rolling to an 88-53 victory.  All 12 Trojan players scored in the game, extending their winning streak to 14 games (third best winning streak in the DSU women's basketball school record book).

Dakota State, ranked No. 6 in the latest NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, defeated the Blue Hawks for the 20^th straight time in the series meeting.  The Trojans raised their overall record to 16-3 and remained undefeated in the North Star conference with an 8-0 record.  Dickinson State fell to 7-12 overall record and 2-7 record in the league.

Dakota State and Dickinson State will play each other in the final regular season contest on Feb. 22, their third NSAA conference meet. 

The Trojans begin their three-game North Star road stretch next weekend, starting Friday at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse as they visit (RV) Mayville State (N.D.).  The game is set for 5:30 p.m. in Mayville, N.D.

(6) Dakota State (S.D.) 88, Dickinson State (N.D.) 53 – FINAL

Dakota State opened the game by scoring seven straight points, ignited by Tabor Teel's opening 3-pointer (assisted by Cierra Watkins) with nine minutes and thirty-five seconds on the clock.  Lilli Mackley added a pair of free throws, while Olivia Ritter added a fast break layup (assisted by Teel) to put DSU up 7-0. 

The Blue Hawks were forced to burn their first timeout of the game with less than eight minutes to go in the first period.

DiSU ended their scoring drought with a pair of free throws by Samantha Oase (DSU led 7-2) with 7:20 on the clock.

Angela Slattery fueled DSU's 11-0 scoring run with a 3-pointer and capped by a free throw from Kenzi Simmons for an 18-2 lead with 4:06 to go in the first quarter.

Hamtyn Heinz drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Watkins) as the Trojans ended the first quarter with a 26-12 lead.

Dakota State shot 50 percent from the field (9-of-18 field goals), including 4-of-9 from the 3-point line, in the first ten minutes of the game. 

The Trojans' lead grew to 21 points at 37-16 after a pair of free throws from Ritter with 5:12 left before halftime.  She added a 3-pointer to give DSU a 42-26 halftime lead.

Dickinson State could get no closer than 12 points at 56-44 with 1:44 left in the third quarter as the Trojans maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the game.

Both teams scored 18 points in the third quarter as DSU led 58-44.

Dakota State held Dickinson State scoreless for nearly seven minutes, propelling a monstrous 22-0 outburst.  Angelina Chapple nailed down a pair of free throws to balloon the Trojans' lead to 80-44 with 3:51 remaining.

DSU outscored DiSU 28-9 in the final quarter, securing the victory.  The Trojans shot a sizzling 66.7 percent from the field (10-of-15 field goals) in the final quarter and held the Blue Hawks to 21.4 percent from the field (3-of-14 field goals).

Dakota State produced a balanced scoring attack with five players scoring double digits.  Teel posted a double-double of 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds (9 defensive).  She added four assists and two blocks.  Heinz tied a season-high 14 points off the bench.  Wasmund, Slattery, and Ritter each tallied 10 points.

Mackley had nine points and six rebounds for DSU.  Simmons added six points and three assists.  Watkins, Molli Thornton, Ella Carstensen, Chapple, and Kristine Biniek also scored in the game.

Wasmund dished out five assists for the Trojans.  Watkins added four assists and four steals.  Ritter had a career-high seven steals, which is tied for 10^th most single game steals in the school record book.

Katherine Fox led the Blue Hawks with 10 points.  Oase added eight points and seven rebounds.  Dylan Stedillie and Brae Eneboe each had seven points. 

Dakota State shot 48.4 percent overall from the field (31-of-64 field goals), including 10-of-33 from the 3-point line.  Dickinson State was held to 38.5 percent (20-of-52 field goals) and 6-of-16 3-pointers.

DSU was 16-of-19 free throws to DiSU 7-of-7 free throws.

The Blue Hawks had a slight rebounding edge over the Trojans 33-32.

Dakota State outscored Dickinson State 23-13 in points off turnovers, 14-6 in second chance points, 40-26 in bench points, 38-22 in points in the paint, and 19-2 in fast break points.