March 1, 2025

MADISON, S.D. – Deadlocked at 34-34 at halftime, top-seeded Dakota State (S.D.) used a 30-22 second half run to defeat fifth-seeded Valley City State (N.D.) 64-56 in the North Star Athletic Association Women's Basketball Postseason Tournament Saturday afternoon at DSU Fieldhouse.  It was the fifth straight year that the Trojans had advanced to the conference postseason tournament's championship game.

Dakota State, ranked No. 8 in the final edition of the 2024-25 NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, earned their sixth straight win and their 21^st win in the last 22 games to raise their overall record to 23-4.  Valley City State ended their season at 15-14 overall record.

The Trojans completed a 3-1 season series record with the Vikings.

Dakota State stays home at DSU Fieldhouse Tuesday evening as they host third-seeded Jamestown (N.D.), who defeated No. 2 seed Mayville State (N.D.) 85-67 in Mayville, N.D., earlier Saturday, in the NSAA championship game.  The game tips off at 7 p.m.

The theme for Tuesday's game is White-Out.  North Star Athletic Association institutions with valid college ID will be admitted free to the game.  There is no regular season passes (Trojan Athletics Club, family season pass, etc.) honored at the postseason action, per NSAA conference postseason policy.

(8) Dakota State (S.D.) 64, Valley City State (N.D.) 56 – FINAL

Valley City State and Dakota State traded 3-pointers to kick off the game, starting with VCSU's Ashlyn Diemert's 3-pointer followed by DSU's Angela Slattery's 3-pointer (the game was tied at 3-3 with nine minutes and seven seconds on the clock in the first period).

Trailing 8-6, the Trojans went on a 9-0 scoring run capped by a pair of free throws from Slattery for a 15-8 lead with 1:46 left in the first quarter.

With DSU leading 18-11, Valley City State closed the first quarter with a 5-0 run sparked by a 3-pointer from Ellie Braaten followed by a jump shot by Abby Aslesen.  DSU led 18-16 after the first quarter.

Dakota State was 6-of-11 from the field, including 4-of-9 from the 3-point line in the first quarter.  Valley City State was 6-of-13 from the field (46.2 percent) and 3-of-5 from the 3-point arc.

The Trojans started the second quarter with a 10-2 scoring run, highlighted by a 3-pointer by Bria Wasmund (assisted by Lilli Mackley) for the first double-digit and largest leads of the game.  DSU led 28-18 with 7:04 left in the second quarter.

After Tabor Teel hit a pair of free throws to put DSU up 32-26, VCSU closed the second quarter with an 8-2 run in the final 2:53.  Madison Spacher drained a 3-pointer as the Vikings tied the game at 34-34 by halftime.

The Vikings shot 46.7 percent (7-of-15 field goals) in the second period, as well as hitting 4-of-5 3-pointers.  DSU was held to 3-of-10 field goals (30 percent).

Dakota State started the third quarter with four straight points by Watkins as she made two straight layups.  After her first layup, Slattery quickly stole the ball and dished an assist for a fast break layup by Watkins to balloon DSU's lead to 38-34 with 8:49 on the clock in the third.

VCSU answered with a 4-0 run to tie the game to 38-38 after JayCee Richter's basket with 7:34 to go in the third.

Tied at 40-40, Mackley ignited DSU's 8-0 scoring run with a 3-pointer followed by a layup by Teel.  Mackley capped the scoring run with a 3-pointer (assisted by Wasmund) as the Trojans extended their lead to 48-40 with 3:33 remaining in the third.

Dakota State led 53-47 after three quarters.  The Trojans outscored the Vikings 19-13 in the third quarter, holding VCSU to 3-of-9 from the field (7-of-8 free throws).  DSU was 7-of-19 field goals in the third quarter and 2-of-5 free throws.

Valley City State held Dakota State scoreless for the first five-plus minutes of the fourth quarter, fueling a 7-0 scoring run.  Richter hit a free throw as the Vikings regained their lead at 54-53 with 6:20 remaining. 
Mackley hit a 3-pointer to snap DSU's scoring drought (assisted by Kenzi Simmons), regaining their lead at 56-54 with 4:49 left.

Dakota State kept Valley City State scoreless for the final six-plus minutes, exploding for an 11-0 outburst.  Teel scored the team's final five points including a 3-pointer as the Trojans grabbed the biggest lead of the game again at 64-54 with 1:01 remaining.

Diemert made a layup to end the Vikings' scoring drought with less than 15 seconds to go, securing the victory for The Trojans.

DSU outscored VCSU 11-9 in the fourth quarter. 

There were three lead changes and seven ties in the game.

Teel led Dakota State with a team-high 21 points on her 7-of-10 field goals and 6-of-7 free throws.  She stole the ball five times and grabbed four rebounds.  Mackley added 12 points on her 4-of-7 3-pointers.  She had five rebounds.  Simmons scored nine points off the bench.  Wasmund and Watkins each had six points.

Watkins contributed four assists and three steals for the Trojans.  Slattery added three assists.  Wasmund dished out two assists.

Diemert led the Vikings with 22 points on her 9-of-13 field goals, including 4-of-6 from the 3-point line.  Aslesen added 12 points and eight rebounds.  Richter had 11 points and nine rebounds.  She had three steals.  Ellie Braaten dished out five assists and recoded six rebounds. 

Dakota State was 20-of-56 overall from the field (35.7 percent), including 12-of-39 from the 3-point line.  Valley City State was 19-of-48 field goals (39.6 percent) and 8-of-16 3-pointers. 

DSU hit 12-of-15 from the free throw line to VCSU 10-of-12 free throws.

The Vikings outrebounded the Trojans 36-29 on the boards. 

Dakota State outscored Valley City State 26-10 in points off turnovers and 14-8 in bench points.