January 19, 2024

MADISON, S.D. – No. 11 ranked Dakota State (S.D.) outscored Viterbo (Wis.) 44-25 in the final twenty minutes to earn an 82-54 North Star Athletic Association women's basketball home opener victory Friday evening at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans extended their winning streak to eight games, matching their season-high winning streak (from Nov. 4 through Dec. 2, 2023).

Dakota State, who kicked off their three-game NSAA home stand, raised their overall record to 16-4 and remained undefeated in the North Star conference play with a 4-0 record.  The Trojans earned their 16^th victory in the last 18 games and improved to 7-1 record at home this season.  Viterbo fell to 6-8 overall record and 1-2 NSAA conference record.

DSU stays home Saturday afternoon, hosting Waldorf (Iowa).  Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m.  Viterbo heads to Bellevue (Neb.) for another league contest.

#11 Dakota State (S.D.) 82, Viterbo (Wis.) 54 – FINAL

Both teams were struggling to find their offense rhythm in the opening minutes of the game.  The V-Hawks took the first lead of the game at 2-0 after a basket by Macy Stellner with eight minutes, ten seconds on the clock.

DSU's Angela Slattery answered with a pair of free-throws to knot the game at 2-2 with 8:01 left in the first period and never trailed for the rest of the game.

Knotted at 7-7, the Trojans went on an 11-2 scoring run to ballon their lead to 18-9 capped by a 3-pointer from Savannah Walsdorf (assisted by Cierra Watkins) with 1:28 to go in the first.

The V-Hawks answered with back-to-back 3-pointers (from Emily McCurdy and Marley Hughes) to cut DSU's lead to 18-15 with 35 seconds to go in the first.

Tabor Teel closed the first quarter with a layup (assisted by Slattery) as the Trojans led 20-15.

DSU shot 36.8 percent from the field in the first ten minutes (7-of-19 field goals) compared to VU 33.3 percent (5-of-15 field goals).

Viterbo kicked off the second quarter with a 6-1 run to tie the game for the third time at 21-21 with 6:46 on the clock after a basket by McCurdy.

The Trojans made their first basket of the second quarter with less than six minutes on the clock from Morgan Huber's basket, fueling DSU's 7-0 scoring run.  Walsdorf drained a 3-pointer to stretch the Trojans' lead to 28-21 with 5:01 to go before halftime.

Lilli Mackley drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Miakken Vincent) to close the first half, extending Dakota State's lead to 38-29.

Dakota State stormed to a 10-3 run to start the third quarter, highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers from Bria Wasmund and Teel (both assisted by Watkins).  The Trojans led 48-32 with less than seven minutes to go in the third.

Viterbo could get no closer than 11 points on three different occasions (last occurrence was with 3:28 to go, trailing 53-42 after Madison Hugdahl's basket). 

Dakota State led 61-47 after three quarters, outscoring Viterbo 23-15 in the third quarter.

The Trojans maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the game, leading as many as 28 points after a pair of free-throws by Angelina Chapple with less than 30 seconds left in the game (DSU led 82-54).

DSU outscored VU 21-10 in the final ten minutes of the game.

Walsdorf paced the Trojans with 16 points (6-of-13 field goals and 4-of-7 3-pointers) and grabbed six rebounds.  Caitlin Dyer added 14 points (4-of-8 field goals and 4-of-4 free-throws).

Teel was 7-of-8 from the field for 15 points off the bench for Dakota State.  She registered three blocks.  Huber scored nine points (4-of-6 field goals).  Slattery tallied seven points, eight rebounds, and three steals.  She dished out four assists.  Mackley had six points and pulled down seven rebounds.  Watkins had six points and contributed three assists.

McCurdy led the V-Hawks with 16 points and seven rebounds.  Gina Stefferud added nine points and four rebounds.  Stellner had seven points.  Hughes dished out four assists.

Dakota State shot 40.6 percent overall from the field (28-of-69 field goals), including 12-of-45 from the 3-point line.  Viterbo was held to 35.7 percent from the field (20-of-56 field goals) and 6-of-15 3-pointers.

DSU hit 14-of-20 from the free-throw line (70 percent).  VU was 8-of-10 free-throws (80 percent).

The V-Hawks outrebounded the Trojans 42-41 (DSU outrebounded VU 11-7 on offensive boards).

Dakota State forced Viterbo to 24 turnovers in the game.  The Trojans outscored the V-Hawks 25-2 in points off turnovers.