Sagan Osborne – Dickinson State Sports & Marketing Information Director
Dickinson, N.D. – Dickinson State moved to 2-0 to start the season with a 70-61 win over Montana Western in Scott Gym on Friday evening. The win was extra sweet for Head Coach Eric Nelson, as it was the 100th win of his head coaching career.
Kayden Steele led the Blue Hawks in scoring for the second straight night, pouring in 18 points on 6-11 shooting and adding 4 rebounds. Samantha Oase had another big game as she collected her first double-double of the year with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Anhelica Shanrock scored in double figures for the first time as a Blue Hawk with 10 points.
"I thought our defense won us the game tonight," said Nelson. "It was always pretty but we dug in during the 4th quarter and got stops when our offense was struggling. Our team is resilient and gritty and this was a gritty win. A great weekend for the Blue Hawks!"
After neither team scored for nearly three minutes to start the game, Montana Western got things going with a three pointer to break the scoreless tie. The Bulldogs remained in control over the opening quarter, never allowing the Blue Hawks to get closer than within one.
In the second quarter, the momentum changed as DSU started the frame on a 9-1 run to take a 22-19 lead just 2 minutes and 48 seconds in. The Bulldogs fought back to tie the game at 28-28 with four minutes to go in the half, but the Blue Hawks answered with another run, this one 7-0 and capped by a Tayte Kohn three, to get back in control. A pair of Kohn free throws with less than 10 seconds to go in the half gave DSU a seven-point lead, 37-30, heading into the break.
Four quick points by Oase sandwiched around a UMW basket started the second half as DSU looked ready to really take control. Montana Western had other ideas, as they fought all the way back to within three, 51-48, with under a minute to play in the quarter. Oase scored again with 38 seconds to go to keep the Blue Hawk cushion at five points heading into the fourth quarter.
Montana Western threatened a few times in the final frame, but Dickinson State played stellar defense down the stretch, not allowing the Bulldogs to make a field goal for the final four minutes of the contest.
For the second straight night DSU outrebounded their Frontier Conference opponent, taking the battle of the boards against UMW 45-40. Dickinson State continued to shoot well from the free throw line, connecting on 16-17 from the charity stripe and are now shooting 31-32 on the young season.
