 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Blue Hawks Bow Out of DAC Tournament to Black Hills, 86-64
A well-played first half in which the Blue Hawks sank 15 of 27 (56%) shots from the field, dissolved after intermission into a 86-64 DAC quarterfinal decision for Black Hills State in Spearfish, S. D.
DSU was a victim of a hot shooting Yellow Jacket squad; the Hawks could manage only 26 points in the second frame, while their opponents’ 42 tallies were a direct result of 17 of 26 (65%) shooting. Dickinson State’s season ends at 8-21.
Both Brittany Mesa and Teryl Norton put in 18 points to lead the Hawks. Mesa was six of eight from the field and she put up the only free throws DSU attempted the entire afternoon, and was successful on all three shots. Norton tried only seven shots on the day--all three-point attempts--but six of them found the mark. She was also credited with a team-high five assists of the Blue Hawks’ 15 total. Mindy Vanderpan was the only other DSU player to reach double figures in scoring, adding 10 to the Hawks’ cause.
Other keys were Elise Daughton, who contributed six points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Hawks, and Katie Schwartz who played unselfishly, passing out four assists.
Dickinson State opened the game with shooting well and committed but 16 turnovers on the day. They finished the game with a respectable 25 of 60 (42%) shooting accuracy, but it was not enough and the Yellow Jackets pulled away.
BHSU now hosts Jamestown College and in the other semi-final bracket, Dakota State hosts Mayville State. Both games are set to tip-off at 7:00 pm on Wednesday. Minot State Solves Dickinson State; DAC Tournament Tips-off on Sunday at Black Hills State
Elise Daughton poured in 20 points on seven of seven shooting from the field and six of eight from the free-throw line, but the Blue Hawks were turned away by the hot shooting of Minot State tonight at the MSU Dome. It was the final DAC contest of 2008 and now the teams try to steel themselves for the DAC Tournament which begins on Sunday, February 24. DSU finished their conference schedule at 4-10 and has drawn Black Hills State and will travel to Spearfish, S.D., for a 3:00 pm tip-off.
Daughton’s efforts had plenty of support, especially from teammates Brittany Mesa and Ashley Bakich-Emmons who both tallied 12 points. Mesa was the team leader in rebounding with eight.
The Hawks played well. They committed only 14 turnovers, which is comfortably below their season’s mark of 19.4 per game and marginally better than their opponents who have created opportunities for DSU to the tune of 21.6 times per game.
In their earlier meetings this year, BHSU defeated the DSU in both contests. The “must stop” women are Snjezana Dojcinovic (#31) and Lacey Haughian (#44) who combined for 55 of the Yellow Jackets’ 140 points (39%). They are also two players to respect as rebounders, though Alana Dykehouse pulled down nine boards in the second game to lead all players.
The Blue Hawks will counter with the leadership of Mesa (11 ppg). Both Daughton and Bakich-Emmons are averaging more than seven points per contest, but DSU will need help from other quarters to topple BHSU. Mindy Vanderpan has had several excellent games and she, with Mesa, has been the most prolific and consistent deep threat. Vanderpan’s 35 of 107 (33%) from behind the arc can give the Blue Hawks an edge. Jessica Talbert has had limited playing time, but she has made the most of it and is another player who will be looked to as a key performer. She gives DSU a steady influence with her floor game and is aggressive enough and skilled enough to be a true force on the boards. Kelsey Boedecker’s 63 of 80 (79%) free-throws leads a team which is shooting 70% on the year. Cold Shooting by Blue Hawks Leads to Road Defeats
The Dickinson State Blue Hawks tumbled this weekend to the Lady T’s of Dakota State on Friday night, 47-93, and then to the Mayville State Comets on Saturday, 60-71. In both games a slow start proved to be costly to the Hawks. This was especially true against MSU as the Blue Hawks--in spite of an eye-popping performance by Laura Big Crow--played really well in the second half but were unsuccessful in overcoming the deficit that they had dealt themselves in the first 20 minute period.
The Blue Hawks combined field goal accuracy was 12 of 51 (24%) in the first half of the two games, putting themselves at intermission behind by 28 points on the first night and then were looking up at a 14-point disadvantage in game two.
The Lady T’s are a good team; in fact, their #13 NAIA rating is probably well-deserved. The Hawks were game Friday night, but were unable to put into question the status of Dakota State’s current standing. Brittany Mesa had 20 points to lead DSU but there are most likely better winning strategies than to score 47% of your team’s points. Ashley Bakich-Emmons dropped in 14 and added four assists.
Mesa was eight of 14 from the field and also led DSU with six rebounds. Her productivity was almost identical on the next night, shooting nine of 15 en route to a 23-point evening while grabbing eight more caroms.
Big Crow was the big story with 28 points and seven rebounds. She was 10 of 19 from inside and then, when fouled, put in another eight of 12 from the line. The Blue Hawks nailed 12 of their 30 (40%) shots from the floor and out-scored the Comets after the half 41-38, but it wasn’t enough.
DSU drained 20 of the 26 free-throws (77%) with Bakich-Emmons showing the way making all but one of her eight efforts. Both she and Mindy Vanderpan were credited with four assists and Teryl Norton scored eight points.
DSU dropped to 4-9 in the DAC and will conclude their conference season at Minot State on Wednesday at 4:00 pm. For More Info. call (701)-483-2710 |
 |
|
 |
|||||
 |
 |
||||||
