March 15, 2024

Photos credits by Cody Welu and Mike Black

MADISON, S.D. – NAIA's No. 9 ranked Dakota State (S.D.) shot a blazing 56.9 percent from the field Friday evening to roll past Science & Arts (Okla.) in the NAIA Women's Basketball National Tournament First Round, presented by Ballogy, at DSU Fieldhouse.  It was the first time in school history that the community of Madison hosted the NAIA national tournament.

Dakota State, No. 4 seed in the Cramer Quadrant of the national tournament, raised their overall record to 26-6.  Science & Arts, a member of the Sooner Athletic Conference and No. 13 seed in the quadrant, ended their season at 19-11 overall record.  It was the first-ever meeting between both teams.

The Trojans won their fifth straight NAIA national tournament's opening round game, dating back from 2008 in the NAIA Division II National Tournament.  DSU won their fourth straight NAIA Division I national tournament's opening round game (or first game of the national tournament – Trojans were in the championship game of the opening round in 2021).

Dakota State plays No. 12 seed Indiana South Bend (31-1 overall record, No. 19 in the NAIA national poll), who upset No. 5 seed Grand View (Iowa) 72-53 in the earlier game Friday at DSU Fieldhouse.  Tip-off is set for 6 p.m., with the winner advancing to the final site of the NAIA Women's Basketball National Tournament at Tyson Events Center on March 21-26.

(9) Dakota State (S.D.) 86, Science & Arts (Okla.) 69 – FINAL

Lilli Mackley drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Morgan Huber) to open the game with a 3-0 lead for Dakota State with nine minutes, twenty-eight seconds on the clock.

Lainey Morrow scored four straight points to give the Drovers their only lead of the game at 4-3 with 8:34 left in the first quarter.

Leading 11-7, the Trojans ignited a 14-2 monstrous scoring run to grab a 25-9 lead with less than 30 seconds to go in the first.  DSU made five straight baskets, with four baskets coming from the 3-point line including back-to-back from Angela Slattery (Huber and Mackley also added a 3-pointer during the scoring run).

Dakota State led 25-11 by the end of the first period.  The Trojans shot 9-of-15 from the field (60 percent) in the first ten minutes and held the Drovers to 35.7 percent (5-of-14 field goals).

Morrow started the second quarter with basket (assisted by Trinitee Alexander) as SAU trimmed DSU's lead to 25-13.  The Trojans then went on an 8-0 scoring run, capped by a layup by Tabor Teel for a 33-13 lead with less than eight minutes to go before halftime.

DSU maintained their lead between 14- and 20-points for the rest of the second period.  Savannah Walsdorf closed the first quarter with a layup to give the Trojans a 49-32 halftime lead.

Dakota State was red-hot from the field in the first twenty minutes, going 17-of-28 from the field (60.7 percent).  Science & Arts was 45.2 percent from the field (14-of-31 field goals). 

The Trojans' lead grew to 60-37 after a steal by Cierra Watkins followed by her layup with less than six minutes left in the third quarter.

A 3-pointer from Walsdorf ballooned DSU's lead to 69-47 by the end of the third quarter. 

Dakota State posted the biggest lead of the game at 74-50 with a 3-pointer from Walsdorf (assisted by Dyer) with 8:41 remaining.

The Drovers outscored the Trojans 22-17 in the final quarter.

Walsdorf poured in a game-high 28 points on her 10-of-17 field goals and 6-of-7 free-throws for Dakota State.  She grabbed nine rebounds and stole the ball three times.  Slattery added 19 points on her 8-of-11 field goals, including 3-of-5 from the 3-point arc.  She collected five rebounds and recorded two steals.

Teel scored 12 points off the bench on her perfect 5-of-5 from the field and 2-of-4 free-throws for the Trojans.  She pulled down nine rebounds.  Mackley added nine points.  Huber and Watkins each scored six points.  Walsdorf and Huber each dished out three assists.  Huber and Watkins each stole the ball three times.

Alexander scored 19 points off the bench for the Drovers (8-of-12 field goals).  She also had six rebounds.  Crystal Ortiz added 12 points and seven rebounds.  Morrow had 13 points.  Jordan Bloomfield tallied nine points.  Tonijah Fortune had four assists.

Dakota State was 33-of-58 from the field, including 10-of-28 from the 3-point line.  Science & Arts was 43.5 percent from the field (27-of-62 field goals) and 5-of-18 3-pointers. 

DSU was 10-of-13 from the free-throw line.  SAU was 10-of-14 free-throws. 

The Trojans outrebounded the Drovers 34-29. 

Dakota State outscored Science & Arts 8-2 in transition points, 21-13 in points off turnovers, and 44-36 inside the paint.
 

First PREMIER Bank and Bankcard - Tournament Sponsor - Honorary Captain

DSU Baseball All-Time Record Holder - Ryan McDaniel (Hits and At-Bats) Head Coach Derrion Hardie - 100th win as DSU baseball head coach