WBK: Kirk's 3-pointer with 16 seconds left lifts Trojans over Vikings 77-75

dsu athletics news

Current News

dsu athletics pages

WBK: Kirk's 3-pointer with 16 seconds left lifts Trojans over Vikings 77-75

January 26, 2010

MADISON, S.D. - In a make-up game from Jan. 23rd, the Dakota State University women's basketball team hosted Valley City State. Dakota State Alyssa Kirk hit the game-winning 3-pointer with 16 seconds to go and Donna Lavea added a free-throw to defeat Valley City State 77-75 in a thrilling game on Tuesday at the DSU Fieldhouse.

DSU snapped a two-game losing streak and lifted their overall record to 8-11 and 3-4 in the DAC conference. Valley City State fell to 12-8 and is 3-4 in the DAC. Dakota State moved into a fifth-place tie with South Dakota School of Mines and Valley City State where DSU currently holds a tiebreaker (DSU defeated SD Mines 74-72 in Rapid City, S.D.)

The Trojans raced to a 21-8 lead with 11:54 left before intermission. DSU held a 41-34 halftime advantage.

DSU had 16 assists on 17 field goals made in the first half. The Trojans shot 56.7 percent compared to the Vikings' 48.4 percent.

Dakota State continued to control the lead between five and nine points in the first nine minutes of the second half. With DSU leading 55-48 with 10:39 left in the game, Valley City State went on a 9-0 run to overtake the lead to 57-55 with 8:13 left.

Valley City State led 65-61 with 5:47 left in the game. Katie Bourk made two free throws with 2:52 left on the clock to put the Trojans up 68-67.

Each team alternated or overtook the lead in the closing minutes. As the Vikings led 76-75 with less than 30 seconds to go, Kirk hit a 3-pointer with less than 16 seconds to go to put the Trojans up 76-75.

VCSU called a timeout with 10 seconds to go for an opportunity. Caitlyn Wojahn shot a 3-pointer and hit the rim as Lavea rebounded for the Trojans and drew a foul. Lavea attempted a double-bonus situation and made the second free-throw to put the Trojans up 77-75. Wojahn dribbled down the court and attempted a jumper to tie the game, but the ball did not go in.

Trojan Lavea went 9-for-16 from the field and 5-for-9 at the free-throw line for 23 points. She grabbed nine rebounds and dished out five assists. Ellesse Washington shot 8-for-10 from the field for 19 points. Allegra Kohley scored 13 points off the bench (6-of-9 from the field) and gathered six rebounds. Katie Bourk and Kir each had six assists.

For Valley City State, four players scored in double figures led by Mandy Johnson and Abby Rittenhouse with 16 points apiece. Amanda Brown added 14 points and Heidi Larson had 10. Rittenhouse grabbed eight rebounds. Wojahn dished our six assists.

Both teams had 30 field goals and six 3-pointers, but the Trojans had two more free-throws than Valley City State (11-9). The Trojans won the rebounding battle, 33-31. The Trojans scored 40 points in the paint compared to the Vikings' 38.

The Trojans shot 50.8 percent (30-of-59) from the field compared to the Vikings' 48.4 percent (30-of-62).

DSU recorded 23 assists in the game. The Trojans' bench outscored the Vikings' bench 24-10.

Dakota State will begin their second half of the DAC Conference schedule on Thursday night. The Trojans will travel to Mayville, N.D. to take on Mayville State. DSU won the first meeting 79-59 in Madison on Dec. 5th. Tip-off is slated at 5:30 p.m. at the Lewy Lee Fieldhouse.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director