WATERTOWN, S.D. – The Dickinson State University (DiSU) women's basketball team fell 85-65 to No. 24 Dakota State University (DaSU) in the 2022 North Star Final Four earlier today. The Blue Hawks end their 2022 campaign with an overall 10-22 record, while Dakota State (25-7) will play for their second-straight North Star Championship on Sunday afternoon. Dakota State will play the winner of the Bellevue/Mayville game.

How it Happened –

First Quarter -

It was an exciting first quarter as both teams pushed the ball up and down the court to come out with a 23-22 score, in favor of the Trojans, at the end of the first quarter. Both teams shot above 50. % from the field in the opening ten minutes and stayed relatively even in every statistical category.

Second Quarter –

Dickinson State regained the lead in the opening minute of the second quarter after back-to-back buckets by Ashlie Watts and Kailyn Groves for the four-point lead (27-23). DaSU's Savannah Walsdorf responded with four consecutive points to even the game at 27-all. With 7:32 left to play, DiSU went on an 8-2 run to hand them their biggest lead of the game (35-29), until the nationally ranked Trojans stayed disciplined on both sides of the ball and battled back to come within one to end the first half of action.

Third Quarter –

A big third quarter by the Trojans extended their lead to double-digits as DaSU's Lexi Robson and Walsdorf opened the quarter with back-to-back buckets. With 2:10 left in the quarter, DaSU's Courtney Menning drained a jumper to extend the Trojan lead to 11 – their largest of the game from this point.

Fourth Quarter –

The Trojans closed any Blue Hawk comeback in the final ten minutes as they outscored DiSU 24-13 and held the Blue Hawks to four made baskets from the field to punch their ticket into the NSAA Championship game on Sunday afternoon.

From the Box Score –

As a team, the Blue Hawks shot 40.0% from the floor (24-60), 27.8% from range (5-18), and 80% from the foul-line (12-15). DiSU added 37 boards, three blocks, five steals, and 18 assists in the loss.

Courtney Olson – who was named NSAA First-Team All-Conference the night before – ended her collegiate career with a team-high 21 points and going 9-22 from the field. The senior added three rebounds and two assists in the loss. Teammate Kailyn Groves, an NSAA Honorable-Mention selection, added 14 points of her own and was one rebound shy of her first double-double of the season with nine boards. Senior Shali Sheridan added ten, including two buckets from range, and dished out three assists. With the loss, Courtney Olson, Shali Sheridan, Ashlie Watts, and Mackenzi Reed exhaust their collegiate eligibility.

Four Trojan players notched double-figure scoring with Svannah Walsdorf, Elsie Aslesen, and Shaylee DeBeer leading the way with 19-points apiece. Teammate Lexi Robson added 11 of her own, while Ashlyn Macdonald grabbed a team-high eight rebounds and knocked down seven points in the win.

As a team, the Trojans shot 50% from the field (30-60), 34.6% from beyond the arc (9-26), and 72.7% from the line (16-22). DaSU added 32 rebounds, four blocks, 19 steals, and 17 assists.