November 13, 2023

MADISON, S.D. – NAIA's nationally ranked No. 16 Dakota State (S.D.) welcomed long time rival Dakota Wesleyan in the inaugural 'Battle of the Blues' traveling trophy, sponsored by BankWest, Monday at DSU Fieldhouse.  The series had been on hiatus since Dec. 11, 2019.  The Trojans never trailed in the forty minutes in the game, rolling past the Tigers 93-75 to extend DSU's home court winning streak to 18 games.

Dakota State completed their three-game home stand undefeated, raising their overall record to 4-2.  It was the first win over the Tigers since Nov. 2, 2010, snapping DSU's 15-game losing streak in the all-time series.  Dakota Wesleyan returned to action for the first time since Nov. 5 after their 86-55 victory over North Star Athletic Association's foe Valley City State (N.D.) and suffered their first setback of the season (1-1 overall record.

Both teams will meet for the second meeting in exactly one month later Dec. 13 at the Corn Palace in Mitchell.

Dakota State wraps up the month of November as they head to North Dakota for the fourth annual Dakota Clash.  The Trojans play a pair of NSAA foes in a non-conference contest, starting on Friday evening against host-team Valley City State (N.D.) at 7 p.m.  DSU face No. 22 ranked Mayville State (N.D.) Saturday afternoon in the battle of NAIA's Top 25 ranked teams at 3 p.m.  The Dakota Clash tournament takes place at W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse in Valley City, N.D.

(16) Dakota State (S.D.) 93, Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 76 – FINAL

Dakota State kicked off the game with a 7-0 scoring run, holding Dakota Wesleyan scoreless for more than three minutes.  Morgan Huber sparked the scoring run with a 3-pointer (assisted by Caitlin Dyer) for a 3-0 lead with less than nine minutes on the clock.

Tabor Teel added a layup, followed by a pair of free-throws to extend DSU's lead by seven points. 

DWU snapped their scoring drought with a 3-pointer by Grace Fryda (assisted by Isabel Ihnen), trimming DSU's lead to 7-3 with 6:34 to go in the first quarter.

Savannah Walsdorf drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Angela Slattery) for the first double digit of the game at 15-5 with less than five minutes to go in the first.

DSU led 26-19 after the first quarter.

Dakota Wesleyan could get no closer than five points on five different occasions in the second period, with the last occasion at 39-34 with 1:31 remaining after a basket by Lackey Sprakel.

Dakota State roared with a monstrous 10-0 outburst to close the first half, capped by Walsdorf's steal followed by Dyer's 3-pointer at the buzzer to balloon their lead to 52-34.

The Trojans were 46.3 percent from the field in the first twenty minutes (19-of-41 field goals) compared to the Tigers 40 percent (14-of-35 field goals). 

DSU posted its biggest lead of the game at 73-45 after a layup by Walsdorf with less than three minutes to gin the third quarter. 

Teel nailed down a pair of free-throws to close the third quarter for a 77-53 DSU lead.  Dakota State outscored Dakota Wesleyan 25-19 in the third.

DWU used a 14-4 run to start the fourth quarter, trimming DSU"s lead to 81-67 after a 3-pointer by Fryda with less than five minutes to go in the game.

DSU maintained their double digits lead for the rest of the game to secure their fourth consecutive victory. 

Five Dakota State players scored in double digits, paced by Walsdorf with 22 points on her 7-of-12 field goals, including 4-of-5 from the 3-point line and converted all four free-throws.  She grabbed eight rebounds, stole the ball six times, and dished out four assists.

Angela Slattery and Cierra Watkins each tallied 13 points for DSU.  Slattery had six rebounds.  Dyer scored 12 points and dished out six assists.  Teel had 12 points and pulled down nine rebounds.  She registered three blocks.  Huber scored seven points.

Fryda led the Tigers with 919 points and four assists.  Emma Yost added 18 points and three assists.  Sprakel had nine points off the bench.  Morgan Edelman tallied six points, eight rebounds, and five assists.  Anna Campbell recorded four blocked shots.  Ihnen stole the ball five times. 

Dakota State shot 47.1 percent overall from the field (32-of-68 field goals) and drained 13 3-pointers in 30 tries (43.3 percent).  DSU hit 16-of-20 free-throws.

Dakota Wesleyan was 44.3 percent from the field (31-of-70 field goals), and 8-of-19 3-pointers.  DWU made 5-of-9 free-throws. 

The Trojans outrebounded the Tigers 41-38. 

DSU outscored DWU 16-4 in fast-break points, 29-16 in points off turnovers, and 18-9 in second chance points.