January 8, 2025

This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Jan. 8, 2025)—The Dakota State University Trojan women's basketball team (11-3 overall record, 3-0 North Star Athletic Association record, ranked No. 6 in the NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll) continues their busy North Star conference schedule with a pair of games this weekend.  The Trojans play their first NSAA conference road contests in North Dakota.

The league leading Dakota State travels to Scott Gymnasium (1104 2nd Street W) on Friday evening to take on Dickinson State (N.D.) (5-9 overall record, 0-3 NSAA conference record).  Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. (Central Time)/5:30 p.m. (Mountain Time) in Dickinson, N.D.

The Trojans visit Jamestown (N.D.) (12-2 overall record, 2-1 NSAA conference record, No. 24 in the latest national poll), in the battle of NAIA's Top 25 nationally ranked teams Saturday afternoon.  The game tips off at 3 p.m., held at Newman Arena (1004 7th Street NE) in Jamestown, N.D.
 
Dakota State returned to action on Jan. 4 to kick off the New Year 2025.  The Trojans used a second half surge to break up a 26-26 halftime tie for a 67-59 victory at DSU Fieldhouse.  DSU expanded the winning streak to nine games, tied for the ninth longest winning streak in school record with the 1978-79 squad.

Dickinson State remained winless in the conference play after falling at No. 22 Mayville State (N.D.) 67-46 on Jan. 3 and at Valley City State (N.D.) 79-52 on Jan. 4.  Jamestown extended their winning streak to 10 games after defeating VCSU 72-54 on the road on Jan. 3.  The Jimmies' winning streak was ended by the Comets on Jan. 4 by the score of 77-72 in the battle of NAIA's Top 25 teams
 
Up Next:  Dakota State starts the second round of North Star conference round robin play next Friday.  The Trojans travel to Bellevue (Neb.) with a 5:30 p.m. tip-off at Gordon Lozier Athletic Center in Bellevue, Neb.

This Week's Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) had won the last 18 meetings with Dickinson State (N.D.), including a 3-0 record in last year's meetings.  The Trojans defeated the Blue Hawks 72-50 in the North Star Athletic Association postseason tournament's semifinals last season at DSU Fieldhouse on Feb. 25. 2024.
+ DSU had won the last seven road meetings at Dickinson State, winning 96-55 in last year's meeting.
+ Dakota State and Jamestown are meeting for the first time since Oct. 26, 2019, which was held at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans are seeking to end their 23-game losing skid with the Jimmies, with the last win over UJ on Jan. 10, 2009. 
+ DSU, Dickinson State, and Jamestown will be playing each other later this month on Jan. 24-25 at DSU Fieldhouse.  They will also play in Dickinson and Jamestown in the regular-season finale on the weekend of Feb. 21-22.
+ Dakota State is undefeated on the road this season with a 4-0 record, with the most recent victory at Warner (Fla.) on Dec. 21.  It will be the first North Star conference road contests this season for the Trojans.
+ DSU extended their NSAA regular-season winning streak to 18 games after defeating Bellevue (Neb.) 67-58 on Jan. 4.
+ This weekend concludes the first round of North Star Athletic Association basketball round robin play.  The second round of the round robin begins next weekend at DSU visits Bellevue (Neb.) and returns home on Jan. 24-25.
+ Dakota State reached double digits wins for the sixth straight year, seventh time in the last eight seasons.

Noteworthy...
DSU VERSUS NAIA'S TOP 25 TEAMS:  Saturday's game will mark the eighth time this season that Dakota State (S.D.) had faced a team that is ranked in the NAIA's Top 25 national poll or listed in the receiving votes section.  The Trojans had collected three Top 25 wins this season, including No. 9 Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.), No. 21 Northwestern (Iowa), and No. 22 Mayville State (N.D.).  DSU also recorded a victory over Morningside (Iowa), who received votes recognition in the national poll earlier this season.

SAVE THE DATES:  Dakota State will hold a cancer awareness night when they return home on Jan. 24 when they host Jamestown (N.D.).  The alumni weekend will also be held on the weekend of Jan. 24-25 (host Dickinson State, N.D., on Jan. 25).  After three straight roads games, the Trojans return home on Feb. 14 as they host Mayville State (N.D.) in the annual Ag Ball contest.  The final regular-season home contest will be held on Feb. 15 as they host Valley City State (N.D.), honoring their seniors after the conclusion of the game.

DAKOTA STATE IN THE NSAA RANKS:  According to the NAIA-PrestoStats website as of Wednesday, Dakota State leads the North Star Athletic Association in scoring offense in league play with 77.0 points per game.  The Trojans also tied for first in 3-point field goals made with 33 3-pointers in the conference.  DSU is tied for second best scoring defense per game in league action, holding the NSAA opponents to 63.7 points per game.  Tabor Teel leads the overall North Star conference in rebounding, averaging 8.7 rebounds per game for Dakota State.  Tia Murray is fourth in the league with 20 total blocks, while Teel is sixth with 12 blocks this season.  Bria Wasmund is third in the NSAA conference with 53 total assists for the Trojans.

2024-25 DAKOTA STATE JUNIOR VARSITY TEAM UPDATES:  The 2024-25 Dakota State University Trojan women's basketball junior varsity team closed out their 2024 slate with a 3-2 record.  The Trojans return to action on Monday, Jan. 13, at DSU Fieldhouse versus Mount Marty (S.D.).  Dakota State had added another contest to their schedule on Wednesday, Jan. 15, as they host Minnesota West CC at DSU Fieldhouse with a 7 p.m. tip-off.

(6) DSU holds off Bellevue (Neb.) at home
Madison, S.D. (Jan. 4, 2025)—No. 6 Dakota State (S.D.) remained undefeated in the North Star Athletic Association action by holding off Bellevue (Neb.) by the score of 67-59 at DSU Fieldhouse, thanks to their second-half surge.

Both teams scored 12 points in the first quarter, while BU went on a 13-2 scoring outburst for the biggest lead at 25-14.  DSU then roared back with a 12-1 outburst to knot the game at 26 by halftime.  Dakota State expanded their scoring run to 24-3 as they kicked off the third quarter with a 12-2 run, leading 43-32 with 4:36 to go in the third.  The Bruins could get no closer than three points in the late fourth quarter, securing the victory for the Trojans.

Bria Wasmund scored a career-high 23 points on her 8-of-14 field goals for DSU.  She also grabbed four rebounds and dished out three assists.  Angela Slattery added 22 points on her 8-of-17 field goals and tallied five rebounds.  Olivia Ritter had seven points, six rebounds, and two steals.

DSU was 23-of-62 from the field and hit 10 3-pointers.  BU was 22-of-58 field goals (37.9 percent).

DSU's Wasmund selected as NSAA Offensive Player-of-the-Week
Madison, S.D. (Jan. 6, 2025)—Sophomore Bria Wasmund of Dakota State (S.D.) was selected by the North Star Athletic Association as the Women's Basketball Offensive Player-of-the-Week.  She earned the weekly honor from the NSAA conference for the second time this season (Defensive Player-of-the-Week on Dec. 23).

Wasmund was 8-of-14 from the field, including 4-of-7 3-pointers, and hit 3-of-4 free throws for a career-high 23 points in DSU's 67-59 home victory over Bellevue (Neb.) at DSU Fieldhouse on Jan. 4.  Her eight field goals made was also her career high.

Wasmund also dished out three assists in the game for the Trojans. 

She averages 15.3 points per game during the North Star conference season for Dakota State.  She also averages 4.3 assists per game, which tied for fourth best assists per game during the conference regular-season in the North Star.

Wasmund drained a season-high six 3-pointers in Trojans' home opener versus No. 9 Concordia (Neb.) on Nov. 9, 2024.  She also had a career-high 11 assists versus North Central (Minn.) on Dec. 9, 2024.

Trojans dominance in the North Star conference
Madison, S.D. (Jan. 8, 2025)—Dakota State (S.D.) extended their winning streak in the North Star Athletic Association regular season contests to 18 games after defeating Bellevue (Neb.) 67-59 on Jan. 4 at DSU Fieldhouse. 

The Trojans are 61-7 record (.910 winning percentage) in the NSAA conference since 2019-20 season.  DSU was 10-4 record in the league in 2019-20, followed by an undefeated 14-0 record in 2020-21.

Dakota State posted back-to-back seasons of 13-1 record in the North Star contests in 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.  The Trojans then went 11-1 record in the league last season, securing their fourth consecutive North Star conference regular-season title.

DSU is the current lone team in the North Star Athletic Association to be undefeated this season with a 3-0 record after two weeks of conference regular-season play.  Both Jamestown (N.D.) and Bellevue (Neb.) are 2-1 record each, followed by Mayville State (N.D.) at 2-2 record, Valley City State (N.D.) at 1-3 record, and Dickinson State (N.D.) at 0-3 record in the North Star conference.

The North Star Athletic Association postseason tournament is slated to start at Feb. 26 with the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds hosting.  The No. 1 and 2 seeds host the semifinals on March 1, with winners advancing to the championship game on March 4 at highest seed remaining.

2024-25 Dakota State Women's Basketball Team Leaders

• Points/Points Per Game:  Angela Slattery - 185 points (13.2 points per game)
• Field Goal Percentage:  Tia Murray - 60.3 percent (35-of-58 field goals)
• 3-point Field Goal Percentage:  Hamtyn Heinz - 77.8 percent (7-of-9 3-point field goals)
• Free-Throw Percentage:  Tia Murray - 88.9 percent (16-of-18 free-throws)
• Rebounds:  Tabor Teel - 122 rebounds (8.7 rebounds per game)
• Assists/Assists Per Game:  Bria Wasmund - 53 assists (3.8 assists per game)
• Steals/Steals Per Game:  Cierra Watkins - 28 steals (2.0 steals per game)
• Blocked Shots:  Tia Murray - 20 blocks (1.4 blocks per game)