Trojans Extend Week Streak to 12 After Weekend Games

On their final NSAA road trip of the regular season, the Dakota State women’s basketball team continued on with their winning ways, getting wins at Dickinson State and Valley City State.

Despite the Blue Hawks getting the early 6-5 lead against the Trojans, their lead would end up being short lived, with DSU scoring twenty points between the end of the first quarter and start of the second to get up to a 21-9 lead.

The Blue Hawks attempted to comeback, scoring eight unanswered points. However, the Trojans again scored ten unanswered points of their own to extend their lead to 31-17. 

The Trojans maintained a double-digit lead for the rest of the game, outscoring the Blue Hawks in every quarter to get the 73-54 road victory. 

DSU forced 27 turnovers in the game, led by Savannah Walsdorf’s six steals. She finished the night with a double-double scoring eleven points and grabbing ten rebounds. 

Elsie Aslesen had 12 points, six rebounds, four steals, and two blocks. Caitlin Dyer added 12 points off the bench. 

Morgan Huber tallied 11 points and two steals for Dakota State. Courtney Menning added 11 points, four rebounds, three assists, and three steals. 

Samantha Oase led the Blue Hawks with 19 points and five rebounds. She also had three assists.

Dakota State shot 36.4 percent from the field (24-of-66 field goals) and drained 12 3-pointers in 35 attempts.  Dickinson State was 44.4 percent from the field (20-of-45 field goals) and 4-of-10 from the 3-point arc.

DSU converted 13-of-16 from the free-throw line compared to DiSU 10-of-12 free-throws. Dakota State also outrebounded Dickinson State 44-28, including 18-2 on the offensive boards.

Early in the second game of the weekend against VCSU, both teams traded leads early, but trailing 8-6, the Trojans went on an 8-0 scoring run sparked by a 3-pointer from Walsdorf. Their lead grew to 24-12 after the first quarter and from then on it was all Trojans. 

DSU once again held a double-digit lead for the rest of the game, going into halftime up 48-26 and outscoring the Vikings 22-10 coming out of halftime in the third quarter. The Trojans led by as much as 32 points in the third.

The 82-52 win for the Trojans extended their win streak to 12 straight games, all in North Star action. It also gave DSU at least a share of the NSAA women’s basketball regular-season tite.

The Trojans were once again led by Walsdorf, who had a double-double for a second consecutive game, scoring a game-high 22 points and once again had 11 rebounds. 

Sidney Fick tallied 11 points and three steals off the bench. Huber scored nine points, dished out five assists, and grabbed four rebounds for DSU.  She also had three steals.  

Dyer had nine points. Elsie Aslesen, Menning, and Miakken Vincent each had seven points.  Aslesen had five rebounds and two blocks. Menning registered four assists and three steals. 

Dakota State shot 46.3 percent overall from the field (31-of-67 field goals) compared to Valley City State 32.3 percent (21-of-65 field goals). The Trojans were 8-of-24 from the 3-point arc, while the Vikings hit 3-of-15 3-pointers.

DSU converted 12-of-15 from the free-throw line.  VCSU went 7-of-14 at the free-throw line. The Trojans outrebounded the Vikings 44-40. 

Dakota State outscored Valley City State 53-32 inside the paint.

With the two wins this weekend, the Trojans now have a 22-5 overall record and a 12-1 NSAA record. They will play their final regular season game on Thursday when they host Bellevue where they will be looking to claim the regular season title outright.

Thursday’s game tip-offs at 5:30pm and can be heard on FM 103.1 or online at AmazingMadison.com.