Sagan Osborne – Dickinson State Sports & Marketing Information Director
Dickinson, N.D. - Dickinson State's late rally came up just short as the Blue Hawks fell to RV Rocky Mountain College, 73-65, in the Coca-Cola Sam Milanovich Classic on Friday night at Scott Gymnasium. The Blue Hawks (3-5) outscored the Battlin' Bears 22-10 in the final frame but couldn't overcome a decisive third quarter from the visitors.
Rocky Mountain built an early lead, taking a 20-15 advantage after the first quarter. Guard Paige Wasson set the tone for the Battlin' Bears with her sharp shooting, knocking down four of her five three-pointers in the first half and finishing the night with 16 points. Dickinson State struggled to generate consistent offense in the opening half, shooting just 38.1 percent from beyond the arc. Kayden Steele and Samantha Oase carried the Blue Hawks offensively during that stretch. Steele tallied 10 of her 13 points before halftime, while Oase contributed six of her 13 points in the paint to keep Dickinson State within striking distance.
The third quarter proved to be the turning point. Rocky Mountain erupted for 28 points, with Sydney Dethman delivering a flawless shooting performance. Dethman went six-for-six from the field, including three three-pointers, and led all scorers with 20 points. The Battlin' Bears' ball movement and ability to capitalize on second-chance opportunities extended their lead to 63-43 heading into the final quarter.
Despite the deficit, Dickinson State came out of the quarter break firing. J'ell Garfield's three-pointer and Brae Eneboe's post presence ignited the 22-10 DSU run. Eneboe, coming off the bench, chipped in six points and four rebounds, while Katherine Fox added eight points and a crucial steal during the surge. Whitney Edwards played a key role in the rally, finishing with seven points and four assists. Steele hit timely shots as the Blue Hawks pulled within four points in the final minute.
Rocky Mountain's composure at the free-throw line sealed the game. Gracee Lekvold connected on all four of her free throws in the closing seconds, stifling the Blue Hawks' comeback bid. The Battlin' Bears finished the night shooting 43.1 percent from the field and 80 percent from the line, while Dickinson State converted just 60 percent of their free-throw attempts. The Blue Hawks held an advantage on the boards, outrebounding Rocky Mountain 37-28, but turnovers and missed opportunities proved costly.
