March 10, 2006

SIOUX CITY, Iowa - Six seed Dakota State University (S.D.) advanced to the quarterfinals with a 77-58 upset of No. 2 seed Tabor College (Kan.) Friday morning in the 15^th annual NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship tournament. The 2006 event is being held at the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena in Sioux City, Iowa.

 

In the first-game of the second round, Dakota State led 38-31 at half. After a fairly even first half, Dakota State got hot from the field in the second half, hitting on 63 percent of their attempts. Tabor on the other hand struggled to convert from the field, shooting 28.6 percent in the second frame.

 

 The majority of the Lady Trojans points came inside the paint from 6-2 post players Maria Gengler and Sara Nelson. Nelson came of the bench to lead Dakota State in scoring with 14 while Gengler finished a dozen. Laura Tewes was also in double figures with 10 points an pulled down eight rebounds. In all, 11 of the twelve players that saw action for the Lady T's scored.

 

A pair of senior guards led the Tabor offense. Erica Dechant scored 15 points on 5 of 9 shooting and Erica Hemmert tallied 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Blue Jays. This was the third appearance in the national tournament for Tabor.

 

Dakota Sate will try for their first ever win in the quarterfinals on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Their last trip to the quarterfinals came in 2000, losing to Northwest Nazarene.

 

For more information on the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship log on to www.naia.org.

 

Box Score