DICKINSON - Lindsay Peterson had a game-high 14 points on 6-15 shooting to lead the Blue Hawks in a dominant effort against Waldorf University on Friday night in Scott Gym. The win moves the Blue Hawks to 1-3 in the North Star Athletic Association and 6-12 overall.
Dickinson State raced out to a quick 9-0 lead just two and a half minutes into the game on a layup by Peterson, forcing a Waldorf timeout, and never looked back. By the end of the first quarter, the Blue Hawk lead had grown to 23-9 and six players had already found the scoring column. Tayte Kohn made it seven Blue Hawks with at least two points when she nailed a triple to put the hosts up 27-11 midway through the second quarter, and Heather LaBree followed that up with a basket in the lane to bring the total to eight. By the end of the half, DSU had doubled up the Warriors and headed to the break up 34-17.
The second half saw more home team dominance, with Samantha Oase (11 points, 8 rebounds) and Kayden Steele (10 points) joining Peterson in double figures. Overall, 12 of 15 Blue Hawks scored at least two points, as the DSU bench outscored their counterparts 29-24. DSU dominated the turnover battle, forcing 24 Warrior giveaways while only turning the ball over themselves six times, including just once in the first half. The rebounding battle also went the way of Dickinson State, 50-41, and the Blue Hawks held a large advantage in points in the paint, 38-22.
"I thought our team came out in the first quarter with great energy and intensity on the defensive end," praised head coach Eric Nelson. "We made some shots early, which helped our confidence. It was a good team win and everyone got in the game. We need to bring the same focus and energy tomorrow against Viterbo."
Dickinson State won in dominant fashion despite shooting just 34 percent (28-82) from the field and 57 percent (8-14) from the free throw line, thanks in large part to a defensive effort that held Waldorf to just 31 percent (14-45) from the floor, and 8 percent (1-12) from deep.
WHATS NEXT
The Blue Hawks will turn their attention to Viterbo University when they take on the V-Hawks at 3:00 pm MT on Saturday January 14 in Scott Gym. The V-Hawks fell to Valley City State, 76-64, on Friday evening.
