Trojans Seeking Fourth Straight Trip to NSAA Championship: Game Preview – #10 Dakota State vs Dickinson State
The #10 ranked Trojan Women’s Basketball team (24-5 overall, 11-1 NSAA) remains home for their Semifinal matchup in the North Star Athletic Association Postseason Tournament against No. 6 seed Dickinson State.
Dickinson State
The Blue Hawks (8-19 overall, 2-10 NSAA) come into this game off a Quarterfinal upset victory over No. 3 seed Valley City State on the road. Marking just the third victory for Dickinson State since the turn of the calendar.
This team managed the upset bid on the road against Valley City State. A team which they were unable to overcome during conference play in the regular season. They were powered by Samantha Oase who notched a 27-point & 10-rebound double-double in the win. In the two matchups with DSU this season, Oase has only posted 16 total points and only six rebounds.
In both meetings this season, Dakota State has scored at least 24 points in the opening quarter. Which has set the tone for both games. The Blue Hawks have dropped 17 straight meetings with DSU and haven’t won since Feb. 22, 2017 in the NSAA postseason tournament when Dickinson State was ranked #21 in the NAIA.
Oase leads Dickinson State in scoring with 13.2 points per game on 51.6% from the field. Followed by Katherine Fox with 11.1 a game. As a team, the Blue Hawks score 63.2 points per game on just 40.7% from the field. They allow opponents 71.3 points per game through 27 games.
Dakota State
The Trojans come into this game looking to keep things rolling in the all-time series with the Blue Hawks. David Moe, in his era as head coach, has yet to lose to Dickinson State with a perfect 17-0 record.
This Trojan team is on fire right now scoring the ball. Ever since losing to #12 Mayville State on the road on Feb. 9, DSU has scored 90+ points in the last three games. Their first time doing so all season and first time ever during Moe’s time as head coach.
Dakota State is looking to punch their ticket to the NSAA Postseason Championship game for the fourth straight time. Two of the previous three trips, they came away as the Tournament Champions, aside from last season when they fell to MSU. That point has been somewhere the Trojans have been looking forward to being back at since they lost last season to MSU. The other of course being the National Tournament with another chance to go and win it all.
DSU is led in scoring by Savannah Walsdorf with 16.9 points per game on 53.7% from the field. She also leads in steals with 93 this season, averaging 3.2 per game which ranks ninth in the NAIA. Walsdorf is 17 steals away from the top spot for all-time single season steals in Trojan history. As well as being fifth in single season scoring at 489, which is 115 away from the top spot held by Jessi Giles who had 603 in 2021-22.
Tabor Teel’s strong season for the Trojans has kept her in the top ranks in blocks this year. She comes into this game averaging two blocks per game which is tied for 13th in the NAIA. As well as leading the Trojans in rebounding, both marks are currently happening while coming off the bench for DSU.
Tipoff is set for 1pm in the DSU Fieldhouse with the pregame beginning at 12:45pm with action this time being broadcast on AM 1390 Dakotas Best.
