DSU Sees Their Win Streak End at the Buzzer

Dakota State trailed by as many as 18 points in the late first half and rallied back to tie the game after three quarters with Bellevue in the NSAA women’s basketball opener Saturday afternoon, but the Trojans were unable to complete their furious comeback bid, falling short 78-76 after BU Laura Jurek made a shot when the time expired.

Three different Bellevue scorers (Asha Scott, Ashtyn Arnold, and Miranda Hennings) sparked a 7-0 scoring run in the first minute and a half of the game, before DSU’s Savannah Walsdorf finally got the Trojans on the board with a layup.

The Bruins were able to ballon their lead to 25-9 towards the end of the first quarter, and they maintained their double-digit lead in the second quarter, posting the biggest lead of the game at 43-25 with 3:19 to go before halftime.

The Trojans came out of the break on fire, and clawed their way back from being down by 15 heading into the half, and ended the third quarter with a huge 18-4 run to tie the game 56-56 heading into the fourth. DSU outscored BU 24-9 in the quarter.

DSU would get their first lead of the game in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter, after Elsie Aslesen drained a three-pointer. 

In the fourth, both teams traded baskets and runs, with neither team able to hold a lead very long once they got one. Bellevue was able to tie the game back up with less than 30 seconds left, and after the Trojans committed a turnover with five-seconds left, the Bruins had enough time to call a timeout and get one final shot off to break the tie.

The Bruins were able to open up a shot that Laura Jurek was able to take, and as the buzzer went off her game-winning bucket was made to give Bellevue the 78-76 victory over Dakota State.

Four Dakota State starters scored in double digits, paced by Aslesen with a game-high 21 points on her 7-of-10 field goals, 3-of-4 3-pointers, and 4-of-6 at the free-throw line. She also grabbed six rebounds and registered four blocked shots.

Sydney Fick added 12 points for DSU, while Walsdorf tallied 11 points, four rebounds, and three steals. Olivia Ritter had 10 points and three rebounds.  

All five Bellevue starters scored in double digits, led by Hennings with 18 points on her 7-of-11 field goals and 4-of-8 3-pointers. Scott added 16 points. Faith Ross scored 14 points and tallied four rebounds. Arnold recorded 12 points and four rebounds for BU. Jurek had 11 points, nine rebounds, and contributed five assists. 

Dakota State shot 51 percent overall from the field (25-of-49 field goals) and 6-of-18 from the 3-point arc. Bellevue was 42.6 percent from the field (29-of-68 field goals) and 10-of-24 3-pointers.

Dakota State, receiving votes in the latest NAIA Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 national poll, saw their eight-game winning streak come to an end and fell to 8-4 overall record. Their eight-game winning streak tied for the eighth best winning streak in DSU women’s basketball record book with the 1999-2000 squad. Bellevue lifted their overall record to 6-4, recording their fifth straight victory.

DSU will return to action on Sunday, December 18th when they host Briar Cliff. Tip-off from the DSU Fieldhouse is set for 3pm, with the Trojan Athletics Club Christmas Party scheduled.