DICKINSON, N.D. – The Dickinson State women's basketball team rang in the new year in style with a 69-50 win over the visiting Bruins of Bellevue University on Friday night. With the win, the Blue Hawks improve to 3-16 overall and 1-1 in North Star action, while the Bruins fall to 7-10 overall and 0-2 in conference play.

How it Happened –

If you have watched any DSU women's basketball game this season, you will know they usually hold a first-quarter lead – and that's the same thing that happened Friday night. The Blue Hawks ended the last three minutes on a 11-2 run to give them an 11-point lead, 24-13. But this time – DSU strung together three impressive quarters, outscoring the Bruins 45-37 to secure the 69-50 win.

The Blue Hawks pulled away in the second quarter after a Lilly Kelley jumper to put the Hawks up by ten. Senior Courtney Olson followed with a bucket and a free-throw of her own on the next possession to extend the lead to 13. After a Bellevue bucket by Aminah Hall to cut the lead back down to 11, Olson and Mackenzi Reed combined for 12 unanswered points to give the Blue Hawks their largest lead of the night, 41-18.

Dickinson continued their hot shooting over the final two quarters to snap a four-game losing streak to the Bruins over the past two years. The last time the Blue Hawks defeated the Bruins was a 71-69 win back on Jan. 10, 2020.

From the Box Score –

Senior Courtney Olson had a monstrous night for the Blue Hawks as she poured in a game-high 22 points and seven boards in the win. The senior went 9-21 from the field and dished out four assists. Teammate Lauren Baumberger recorded the final Blue Hawk in double-figure scoring with ten and she added six rebounds. Lilly Kelley, McKenzie Johnson and Mackenzi Reed followed with seven points, while Kailyn Groves and Heather LaBree added six and five, respectively.

As a team. the Blue Hawks shot 35.6 from the floor, 33.3 from range and 62.5 from the foul-line. They added 52 boards, six steals, 19 assists and forced 16 Bruin turnovers.

From the Coach –

"I was really proud of how hard our girls played on the defensive end," stated DSU's head women's basketball coach Eric Nelson. "We had multiple girls step and make shots. It was a total team effort and we played hard for all 40 minutes of the game. We get to enjoy it for a bit but we have to get ready for Dakota State tomorrow as they are a nationally ranked team and we have to be ready to match their intensity."