DSU hosts Saturday basketball success

DICKINSON — Dickinson State earned a hard-fought, 64-61 overtime victory over Bellevue University in a North Star Athletic Association women's basketball contest on Saturday afternoon in Scott Gymnasium.

Head coach Eric Nelson praised his team's performance, emphasizing their defensive effort. "It was a great team win tonight. I thought our defense was the difference in the game, and our team was locked in on that end," Nelson said. "We needed a win and got one. Really proud of our effort. We need to use this win as some momentum heading into two more home games next weekend."

The game began with Bellevue (10-7, 2-3 NSAA) taking a 14-8 lead in the first quarter, fueled by Ashtyn Arnold's six points. Dickinson State (6-10, 1-4 NSAA) struggled offensively in the opening frame, shooting 34.3% from the field. Samantha Oase kept the Blue Hawks within striking distance with four points and two rebounds.

In the second quarter, the Blue Hawks responded with an 18-14 run to tie the game at halftime, 28-28. Oase led the charge with eight points and dominated on the boards, while Kayden Steele contributed energy and key rebounds. Katherine Fox sank two free throws in the closing seconds of the half, highlighting Dickinson State's improved offensive rhythm.

The third quarter saw the Blue Hawks take a slim 41-38 lead, with Steele scoring six points and anchoring a strong defensive effort. Dickinson State held Bellevue to just 26.3% shooting in the period, setting up a tense final frame.

In the fourth quarter, both teams traded leads in a physical battle. Bellevue briefly regained momentum behind Brandi Dunn's three-pointer and Arnold's play in the paint, but Oase and Steele answered with timely baskets for the Blue Hawks. With the score tied at 55-55 in the final seconds, Dickinson State forced a defensive stop to send the game into overtime.

In the extra period, the Blue Hawks capitalized on their defensive intensity, holding Bellevue to six points. Kyrie Alldredge hit a crucial three-pointer to give Dickinson State the lead, and Fox iced the game with two free throws in the final seconds to secure the 64-61 win.

Oase led all scorers with 24 points on 10-for-20 shooting and added 11 rebounds for a double-double. Steele recorded 16 points and 14 rebounds, while Fox contributed eight points, five rebounds, and six assists. Whitney Edwards provided eight points off the bench, going 4-for-5 from the field.

Bellevue was paced by Arnold's 17 points and six rebounds, while Dunn added 16 points, including three three-pointers. The Bruins struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 18.2%, and committed 13 turnovers, which the Blue Hawks converted into key points.

Dickinson State outrebounded Bellevue 54-53 and held a 30-22 advantage in points in the paint.

Dickinson State improved to 10-7 overall and maintained a perfect 5-0 record in North Star Athletic Association play with a commanding 85-75 victory over Bellevue University on Saturday evening in Dickinson. A dominant first half and timely execution in the second helped the Blue Hawks fend off a late Bruins charge.

The Blue Hawks wasted no time establishing control, opening the game on a 20-7 run. A balanced offensive effort saw five different players score in the first ten minutes, as Dickinson State's efficient ball movement produced quality looks from all areas of the floor. By halftime, the Blue Hawks held a commanding 45-23 lead, shooting 53.7% from the field and hitting 42.3% of their shots from beyond the arc.

The second half brought a more resilient Bellevue squad, as the Bruins outscored Dickinson State 52-40 in the final 20 minutes. Led by RJ Smith's team-high 14 points and 7 rebounds, the Bruins closed the deficit to single digits late in the game. However, Dickinson State capitalized on its early cushion, with timely free-throw shooting and a composed approach to breaking Bellevue's pressure.

Photo courtesy of Dickinson State University

John Evans delivered a standout performance for the Blue Hawks, tallying a team-high 17 points while converting 8-of-10 free throws. Jaiden Wright added 14 points off the bench, showcasing his sharpshooting ability by going 2-for-3 from three-point range and a perfect 4-for-4 at the charity stripe. Cordell Stinson chipped in with 12 points, including two crucial three-pointers to halt Bellevue's second-half momentum.

Defensively, Dickinson State was anchored by its ability to force 12 turnovers, which translated into 18 points on the other end. The Blue Hawks also limited Bellevue to just six second-chance points despite being outrebounded 34-28.

Head coach Derek Selvig praised his team's effort in the tightly contested matchup. "Awesome focus and attention to detail from our guys. These back-to-back games in conference are brutal, and our guys bought into the game plan and executed it. It's really hard to play with a lead in college basketball, especially against a well-coached team. But we weathered the storm. Very happy for our guys."

Bellevue, which fell to 10-8 overall and 2-3 in the NSAA, was paced by JJ Montgomery's 13 points, while Caleb Chiang and Smith combined for 22 points off the bench. Despite their second-half surge, the Bruins were unable to overcome their cold start and missed opportunities at the free-throw line, shooting just 64.7%.