December 18, 2023

MADISON, S.D. – NAIA' nationally ranked No. 13 Dakota State (S.D.) women's basketball squad faced a 60-54 deficit with less than three minutes remaining in the game Monday evening versus Morningside (Iowa) of the Great Plains Athletic Conference.  Savannah Walsdorf erupted for 10 straight points off from four consecutive turnovers in a span over thirty-five seconds, igniting DSU's 17-2 monstrous closing run in the final 3:50 for a 69-60 victory.

The Trojans snapped their two-game losing skid, improving their overall record to 9-4 as they head into their Christmas break.  Morningside fell to 7-4 overall record.  It was the rematch of last year's NAIA Women's Basketball National Tournament Opening Round where the Trojans won in Wichita, Kan.

It was the second straight victory in the series meeting for Dakota State over Morningside.  The Trojans also earned their first home victory over the Mustangs since Nov. 7, 2007.

A total of 16 lead changes – 13 lead changes in the final twenty minutes of the game – and three ties were registered in the game.

Dakota State returns to action on Dec. 29-30 as they travel to the state of Illinois against a pair of Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference.  The Trojans face Saint Xavier (Ill.) on Friday, Dec. 29 at Shannon Center with a 5 p.m. tip-off in Chicago.
DSU visits Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) on Dec. 30 at McHie Arena with a 1 p.m. in Bourbonnais, Ill.

#13 Dakota State (S.D.) 69, Morningside (Iowa) 60 – FINAL

Dakota State opened the game with a 3-0 lead as Caitlin Dyer drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Walsdorf) with 9:23 on the clock in the first quarter.

After trading leads (DSU led 5-4), the Mustangs went on a 7-0 run to grab a 11-5 lead capped by Chaise Pfanstiel's basket with 4:40 to go in the first.

MC's lead grew to 21-12 after Baylie Girres' field goal with less than 50 seconds to go in the first.  Lilli Mackley followed up with a basket (assisted by Tabor Teel) as the Trojans trimmed their deficit to 21-14 by the end of the first quarter.

Morningside shot 10-of-15 from the field (66.7 percent) compared to Dakota State 5-of-12 field goals (41.7 percent) in the first ten minutes.

The Mustangs posted the biggest lead of the game at 27-16 with 5:19 remaining in the second period after a pair of free-throws by Chloe Lofstrom.

Dakota State fueled a 10-0 outburst in the final 4:46, ignited by a 3-pointer by Mackley (assisted by Morgan Huber) and closing the second quarter with Teel's basket.  DSU trailed 27-26 by halftime.

DSU outscored MC 12-6 in the second quarter.  The Trojans were 5-of-11 field goals and held the Mustangs to 2-of-10 field goals.

After opening the third quarter with a missed field goal by both teams, Dakota State and Morningside hit three consecutive baskets as they traded leads.  With DSU leading 32-31, the Mustangs went on a 6-0 scoring run to grab a 37-32 lead after Ella Wragge's basket with less than six minutes to go.

Dakota State answered with a 6-0 scoring run to regain their lead at 38-37 after a fastbreak opportunity with Dyer's layup after Mackley's steal and assist with 4:53 on the clock in the third.

The game was knotted at 45-45 by the end of third quarter, featuring 11 lead changes.  DSU outscored MC 19-18 in the first ten minutes of the second half.

The Trojans opened the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run to jump to a 52-45 lead with less than seven minutes to go, thanks to a pair of 3-pointers from Huber and Walsdorf.

Morningside then scored 13 consecutive points to overtake a 58-52 lead with 4:14 remaining in the game.

Miakken Vincent snapped DSU's scoring run with a basket with less than four minutes left in the game (Dakota State trailed 58-54).

Lofstrom made a basket as Morningside extended their lead to 60-54 with 2:57 left.

Walsdorf stole the ball and followed up with a layup as DSU trailed 60-56 with 2:22 remaining, calling a timeout by the Mustangs.

After the timeout, Walsdorf scored eight consecutive points from four straight turnovers committed by the Mustangs.  She capped the monstrous scoring run with back-to-back 3-pointers to give DSU a 64-60 lead with 1:46 remaining, forcing Morningside to call a timeout.

The Mustangs failed to convert their scoring opportunities as the Trojans ballooned their lead to 66-60 after Angela Slattery's basket.  Dyer added a free-throw, followed by Teel's two free-throws in the final 30 seconds helped DSU to secure the victory.

Dakota State outscored Morningside 24-15 in the fourth quarter.  DSU was 8-of-16 from the field (50 percent), including 4-of-11 from the 3-point arc in the final ten minutes.  MC was held to 5-of-12 field goals (41.7 percent) and 1-of-5 from the 3-point line.

Walsdorf led the Trojans with a game-high 17 points, with 13 points coming in the fourth quarter.  She was 7-of-12 from the field.  She grabbed eight rebounds, dished five assists, and stole the ball five times.  Huber added 13 points, three assists, and three steals.

Teel and Cierra Watkins each scored eight points off the bench for DSU.  Teel collected six rebounds and registered two blocked shots.  Dyer also had eight points and two assists.  Mackley recorded seven points and three steals.
Slattery, Mackley, Oliva Ritter, and Watkins each contributed two assists for Dakota State.

Lofstrom led Morningside with 14 points and four rebounds.  Alexis Spier added 11 points, six rebounds, four assists, and four steals.  Lily Vollertsen had 10 points, three assists, and three steals.  Pfanstiel scored eight points off the bench.

Dakota State shot 45.8 percent overall from the field (27-of-59 field goals) compared to Morningside 50 percent (25-of-50 field goals).  DSU was 9-of-34 3-pointers (26.5 percent) to MC 2-of-12 3-pointers (16.7 percent). 

Morningside converted 8-of-10 free-throws.  Dakota State was 6-of-8 from the free-throw line. 

The Mustangs had a slight rebounding edge, outrebounding the Trojans 30-29.

Dakota State outscored Morningside 15-6 in fast break opportunities, 27-17 in points off turnovers, and 36-34 inside the paint.