Dakota State Classic Preview
The #15 Dakota State Women’s Basketball team is back in action tonight for their Dakota State Classic in the DSU Fieldhouse.
Four total teams will participate in the Dakota State Classic including: Dickinson State (N.D.), College of the Ozarks (Mo.) and Haskell (Kan.). The weekend will see a pair of games both Friday and Saturday. Beginning with Dickinson State and Haskell at 4pm today, followed by Dakota State and College of the Ozarks at 6pm. Then Saturday will begin with Dickinson State vs College of the Ozarks at 2pm and conclude with Dakota State vs Haskell at 4pm to round things out.
Dickinson State and Dakota State, who are North Star Athletic Association foes, will not face one another this weekend. They won’t face off until conference games begin and they play on Jan. 13.
College of the Ozarks
The College of the Ozarks comes into the game on a three game winning streak sitting at 6-2 overall. They’re also the reigning NCCAA Division I National Champions, though they have now rejoined the NAIA. They have a potent offense that has three players who have all scored over 125 points this season.
For context, DSU’s Savannah Walsdorf has scored 113 points so far this season at 14.1 points per game. All three players average 16 or more points per game. Those being freshman Logan Jones (16), senior Kayley Frank (17) and sophomore Susanna Morgan (18). Morgan not only leads in scoring, but she is a dominant force on the glass. She reels in 15.4 rebounds per game, with six being offensive. They score 82.3 points per game as a team.
Becky Mullis is the head coach of the Bobcats in her 11th season. In every prior season of her tenure, her team garnished 20 or more wins each year. She is 252-56 overall, all games with College of the Ozarks. Her team received votes (101) in the latest NAIA Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 poll.
Haskell
Haskell is 2-7 overall to begin their season, but don’t let their record fool you. They’ve been within reach of winning in all but one game this season. Dropping six of their seven losses by single digits. They’re not as strong of an offense, scoring just 66.4 points per game.
This is a mistake prone team. They turn the ball over 20+ times per game and commit just as many fouls each contest. Senior Marilyn Goodman leads the Bobcats in scoring with 12.1 points per game on 41% from the field.
Adam Storm is the head coach of the Indians. It is his first season at the helm and first as a head coach.
Dakota State
Dakota State comes into this game after a long break for Thanksgiving. Playing their first game since Nov. 18 against now #20 Mayville State, where they got the victory. Walsdorf leads the Trojans in scoring and in assists per game with a 2.3 average. DSU has a pair of players who average 10+ ppg, the other being Angela Slattery with 10.5 per game. She also leads the Trojans in rebounding with 7.3 per game.
The Trojans lead all NSAA teams in scoring so far this year at 78 points per game. They rank second in points allowed with just 67.8 points. DSU’s defense is causing opponents to turn the ball over at a high rate with teams averaging 21 turnovers per game against the Trojans.
This will be the second time this season the Trojans have played games in back-to-back days. The first coming in the Dakota Clash on a neutral site.
The game is set to tipoff tonight at 6pm with pregame at 5:45pm and tomorrow’s game against Haskell will begin at 4pm with a 3:45pm pregame time. Both games will be on Jammin Country 103.
