Lady Trojans Grab Second Straight Upset Victory

For the second straight game, the Dakota State women’s basketball team earned the upset against a nationally ranked NAIA team, defeating Northwestern on the road last night 80-64.

Neither team was able to really get going in the first quarter, but in the second both offenses started to pick it up as DSU was able to score 20 points in the quarter and go into halftime up 36-31.

The Trojans went on to score at least 20 points in each quarter for the rest of the game. They outscored Northwestern 24-16 in the third quarter, and continued to add to their lead into the fourth. 

DSU had their biggest lead of the game, up 80-55 with 2:44 left, and the Trojans outscored the Red Raiders in the final quarter as well, outscoring them 20-17 in the quarter.

Four Trojans eclipsed double-digit points, led by Elsie Aslesen with 19 points on her 5-of-8 field goals, 2-of-4 3-pointers, and hit 7-of-8 free-throws. She also grabbed nine rebounds and recorded three blocked shots.

Lili Mackley added 14 points, four assists, and four rebounds for the Trojans, and Caitlin Dyer tallied 11 points off the bench on her 4-of-8 field goals, including 3-of-5 from the 3-point line.  She also had three rebounds and three assists.

Savannah Walsdorf scored 10 points, grabbed six rebounds, and stole the ball four times for DSU. Angela Slattery added nine rebounds and three steals off the bench, while Sydney Fick also scored nine points.

Payton Beckman led the Red Raiders with 11 points and five rebounds off the bench.

Dakota State shot 44.4 percent overall from the field, making 28 field goals in 63 attempts.  The Trojans tied a season-high 13 3-pointers in 32 tries (40.6 percent).  Northwestern was 26-of-63 from the field (41.3 percent) and 5-of-14 from the 3-point line (35.7 percent).

It was the second straight victory for Dakota State over the NAIA’s Top 25 nationally ranked teams (defeated No. 22 Briar Cliff, Iowa, 88-83 at DSU Fieldhouse on Dec. 18). The Trojans notched their 10th win in the last 11 games, raising their overall record to 10-4 on the season.

Northwestern fell to a 10-3 overall record. 

Dakota State takes their Christmas break this week and returns to action next Friday, when they visit Morningside. Tip-off is set for 6pm.