January 26, 2024

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) outscored Mayville State (N.D.) 40-18 inside the paint Friday evening, earning a 71-48 North Star Athletic Association women's basketball victory at a packed DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans held the Comets to 30 points below their season scoring average in the battle of NAIA's Top 25 nationally ranked teams.

Dakota State, ranked No. 11 in the latest national poll, extended their season-high winning streak to ten games and raised their overall record to 18-4.  The Trojans also wrapped up their first half portion of the conference schedule with a 6-0 record.  Mayville State, ranked No. 13 in the national poll, saw their 10-game winning streak come to an end (with the last setback being against DSU in the Dakota Clash last November).  The Comets are 15-3 overall record an 4-1 NSAA conference record.

It was the fifth annual Ag Ball contest for Dakota State, recognizing the importance of agriculture economic growth and treating them with pork loin sandwich meal.

It was the largest margin victory for the Trojans in the series meeting since Nov. 20, 2020 (DSU defeated MSU 99-55 in the Dakota Clash at DSU Fieldhouse).  DSU won for the 12^th time in the last 13 meetings with MSU.

Mayville State concludes their first half portion of the conference schedule Saturday afternoon at Bellevue.

Dakota State heads on the road next weekend, visiting Viterbo (Wis.) next Friday and Waldorf (Iowa) next Saturday to begin their second half portion of the NSAA conference schedule.

(11) Dakota State (S.D.) 71, (13) Mayville State (N.D.) 48 – FINAL

Erin Walcker sparked the Comets' 7-0 opening run with a 3-pointer and a basket.  Jordan Zrust capped the scoring run with a layup for a seven-point lead with eight minutes and eleven seconds on the clock.

The Trojans snapped their scoring drought with a basket from Morgan Huber, trailing 7-2 with less than eight minutes to go in the first period.  DSU fueled that to a 12-0 outburst to grab a 12-7 lead after 3-pointer from Savannah Walsdorf (assisted by Cierra Watkins) with 4:51 on the clock in the first.

Mayville State overtook the lead at 15-14 after an 8-2 scoring run, highlighted by a 3-point play by Zrust with 2:23 to go in the first quarter.

Dakota State closed the first period with a 7-0 scoring run for a 21-15 lead (part of three straight baskets from Angela Slattery, Walsdorf, and Tabor Teel). 

DSU shot 56.3 percent from the field (9-of-16 field goals) compared to MSU 42.9 percent (6-of-14 field goals).

The Trojans carried their 7-0 scoring run into the early second quarter, ballooning their outburst to 13-0 run.  Slattery made a layup (assisted by Huber) to give the Trojans a 27-15 advantage with 6:33 remaining in the second.

Dakota State led as many as 13 points in the first half at 31-18 after Teel's basket with 4:11 left in the second quarter.

Alex Page closed the first half with a jump shot (assisted by CJ Decker) as the Comets trimmed the Trojans' lead to 35-25.

DSU shot 42.9 percent in the second quarter (6-of-14 field goals) and held MSU to 28.6 percent (4-of-14 field goals).

The Comets could get no closer than seven points at 35-28 after Jes Mertens started the third quarter with a 3-pointer (assisted by Mackenzie Hughes) with 9:42 on the clock.

Caitlin Dyer started DSU's 6-0 scoring run followed by back-to-back baskets from Teel, ballooning their lead to 41-28 with 8:06 remaining in the third quarter.

Slattery drained a 3-pointer to widen Dakota State's lead to 51-34 with 2:25 remaining in the third quarter.  The Trojans maintained their double dight lead for the rest of the game, leading 55-39 after three quarters.

Leading 55-44 in the fourth quarter, the Trojans drained four 3-pointers as part of their 14-2 scoring surge.  Bria Wasmund highlighted with back-to-back 3-pointers during the scoring run, as well as Dyer and Lilli Mackley made a 3-pointer each.

Dakota State outscored Mayville State 16-9 in the final quarter to secure the victory.

DSU shot 50 percent in the final twenty minutes (13-of-26 field goals) and held MSU to 9-of-20 3-pointers (45 percent).

Teel packed the Trojans with a game-high 22 points off the bench.  She was 9-of-11 from the field and hit 4-of-6 free-throws.  She also had five rebounds, two steals, and a block.  Walsdorf added 16 points and seven rebounds.  Slattery tallied 10 points and eight rebounds.  She registered three steals.

Wasmund scored eight points off the bench for DSU.  She had two steals and two assists.  Huber and Watkins each dished out three assists.  Watkins stole the ball three times.

No MSU players scored in double digits in the game.  Zrust scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds.  Hughes added nine points, three assists, and three rebounds.  Mertens had six points and three steals.

Decker scored eight points and contributed three assists for the Comets.  Greta Hillukka had six points.

Dakota State shot 50 percent overall from the field (28-of-56 field goals) and limited Mayville State to 39.6 percent (19-of-48 field goals).  DSU and MSU each hit seven 3-pointers.  The Trojans were 8-of-13 from the free-throw line, while the Comets made all three free-throw attempts. 

DSU outrebounded MSU 33-27 in the game.  The Trojans stole the ball 16 times to the Comets eight steals.

Dakota State outscored Mayville State 32-11 in bench points.