February 7, 2024
MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) kept rolling in the North Star Athletic Association Women's Basketball action, holding Bellevue (Neb.) to their season-low points Wednesday evening in their 81-32 victory at DSU Fieldhouse. It was the largest margin of victory for the Trojans in the all-time series meeting with the Bruins (previous largest margin of victory was by BU 83-45 on Feb. 16, 2019).
Dakota State, ranked No. 9 in the latest NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, ballooned their winning streak to 13 games. The Trojans lifted their overall record to 21-4 and remained undefeated in the North Star conference play with a 9-0 record. Bellevue dropped their fourth straight game, falling to 10-14 overall record and 3-6 NSAA conference record.
DSU completed the NSAA conference season series sweep over BU, earning their ninth win in the last ten meetings.
Dakota State plays their final road contest of the season Friday evening, facing No. 12 ranked Mayville State (N.D.) in the battle of NAIA's Top 15 teams. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse in Mayville, N.D. Bellevue also plays at MSU on Saturday at 3 p.m.
(9) Dakota State (S.D.) 81, Bellevue (Neb.) 32 – FINAL
Bellevue opened the game with the first lead of the game after the tip-off. Kaylee Dener hit a jump shot (assisted by Aminah Hall) with nine minutes, forty-eight seconds on the clock for a 2-0 BU lead.
Morgan Huber ignited DSU's 8-0 scoring run with a 3-pointer, followed by six straight points from Savannah Walsdorf for an 8-2 lead with 7:33 to go in the first quarter.
The Bruins could get no closer than four points at 8-4 after Denker's basket with 7:19 on the clock in the first. The rest was all by the Trojans.
Dakota State used a 15-1 explosion in the final 6:25 of the first quarter as their lead grew to 23-5. The Trojans shot 50 percent in the first quarter (10-of-20 field goals) and held the Bruins to 18.2 percent (2-of-11 field goals).
The Trojans extended their scoring run from the first quarter into the second quarter with a 20-1 outburst, ballooning their lead to 28-5 after Tabor Teel's basket with less than seven minutes to go.
Bellevue ended their 11-plus minutes field goals drought with a basket made with 6:52 to go in the second quarter. Zakiyyah Muhammad hit a layup for the first basket since 7:19 of the first quarter (DSU led 28-7).
Both teams struggled offensively in the second period, where DSU just outscored BU 10-6. The Trojans led 33-11 by halftime, despite shooting 4-of-20 from the field (20 percent). The Bruins were 3-of-14 from the field (21.4 percent) and had more rebounds than points in the first twenty minutes (22 rebounds).
Dakota State shot 50 percent in the third quarter (10-of-20 field goals) to outscore Bellevue 24-11 for a commanding 57-22 lead.
The Trojans kicked off the fourth period with a 14-2 outburst, highlighted by three consecutive 3-pointers from Miakken Vincent. Caitlin Dyer capped the scoring run with a layup as DSU's lead grew to 71-24 with 6:12 remaining.
Dakota State outscored Bellevue 24-10 in the final quarter and 48-21 in the final twenty minutes. The Trojans shot a sizzling 64.3 percent in the final ten minutes (9-of-14 field goals) compared to the Bruins 36.4 percent (4-of-11 field goals).
Eleven different Trojan players scored in the game, paced by Teel with a game-high 17 points off the bench. She was 7-of-10 from the field and pulled down seven rebounds. She also registered five blocks. Savannah Walsdorf added 11 points and eight rebounds. She stole the ball five times.
Angela Slattery, Vincent (tied career-high for fifth time), and Bria Wasmund (tied season-high three times) each scored nine points for Dakota State. Wasmund stole the ball a season-high four times. Lilli Mackley added six points and tied a career-high with four assists (for the ninth time). Olivia Ritter recorded six points and a career-high six rebounds. She registered three steals. Huber and Molli Thornton (season-high) each had five points.
Ashton Arnold led the Bruins with 10 points and pulled down seven rebounds. Denker and Muhammad each added six points. Denker had six rebounds. Aminah Hall collected five rebounds. Jillian Friedman recorded two blocks. Dener, Arnold, Hall, Muhammad, and Delaney VanBlaricon each had a block.
Dakota State shot 44.6 percent overall from the field (33-of-74 field goals) and held Bellevue to 27.7 percent (13-of-47 field goals). The Trojans hit eight 3-pointers in the game, while the Bruins made one 3-pointer.
Both teams went to the free-throw line ten times, with DSU making two more free-throws than BU (7-5).
The Trojans outrebounded the Bruins 41-36.
Dakota State shut down Bellevue 18-0 in transition points, 24-0 in points off turnovers, and 8-0 in second chance points. DSU also outscored BU 48-20 inside the paint and 48-12 in bench points.