No. 13 Dakota State slips past Morningside

MADISON, S.D. – A strong start to tonight's non-conference game at Dakota State slipped away from the Mustangs, as Morningside committed costly turnovers late in a 69-60 loss to the no. 13 Trojans. 

The Mustangs took the lead ahead of the five-minute mark in the first quarter, when Chaise Pfanstiel connected for two points on an assist from Ella Wragge to go up 6-5. Morningside would build on its lead through the quarter, opening up a 21-14 advantage at the end of the period. 

DSU coundered in the second quarter, holding Morningside to a pair of two-point buckets and two Chloe Lofstrom free throws while putting up 12 points of their own to trail at the half 27-26. 

Morningside held a lead early in the second half, keeping the Trojans at bay until the midway point of the third quarter, at which point the two teams began battling back and forth. DSU took its first lead with 5:01 to play in the penultimate period, 38-37, but the game remained deadlocked until the fourth quarter.

Dakota State got on the board first in the final quarter, hitting a three after one-and-a-half minutes of play. Jaeden Webb hit her only three of the night, followed by scores by Pfanstiel and Lily Vollertsen to pull even again. Strong defensive play by Alexis Spier gave Morningside the lead with five minutes left in the quarter, and Vollertsen and Lofstrom opened up a 58-52 lead for the visitors. 

The pesky Trojans kept fighting back, however, pulling ahead for the final time after the two-minute mark had ticked off the clock. 

As a team, the Mustangs shot 50 percent from the floor and 80 percent from the free-throw line. Just 2-of-12 shots from beyond the arc fell for Morningside in the contest. 

Lofstrom led Morningside in scoring, with 14 points, followed by Spier, with 11, and Vollertsen with 10. Spier had a team-high six rebounds, alongside four assists and four steals. 

The Mustangs head into the break with a 7-5 record and a 4-3 mark in the Great Plains Athletic Conference, hoping to regain momentum as they dive back into conference play on Saturday, Jan. 6, when they travel to Hastings.