MAYVILLE -- Dickinson State fought off a Mayville State surge and then got a little help from their rivals in Jamestown.
Not long after the 12th-ranked Blue Hawks put the finishing touches on the Comets with a 78-68 victory, they found out Jamestown College had upset fifth-ranked Black Hills State 68-62.
The scenario allowed the Blue Hawks to lock up the No. 1 seed in the Dakota Athletic Conference women's basketball tournament, which begins Sunday. They'll see familiar faces, because Mayville State solidified the No. 8 seed with the loss.
On the other hand, the Blue Hawks might not want to see the Comets too soon after Wednesday night's score.
Mayville State cut DSU's lead to four late in the second half, requiring the Blue Hawks' bench to help trim the lead and seal their 20th victory of the season.
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"We didn't execute offensively," DSU coach Guy Fridley said. "We weren't attacking we were playing into their hands."
Freshman guard Kylee Bittner led the charge as DSU (20-6, 11-2 DAC) pulled away, scoring a career-high 10 points, which included two 3-pointers down the stretch.
Kelsey Boedeker led DSU with 22 points and six assists. Kia Herbel picked up another double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds and Ashley Emmons added 11 points.
DSU's win brushed back a solid effort by Mayville State's Erin Ericson and Ali Sonstelie, who combined for 45 of the Comets' (3-22, 1-12 DAC) points. Ericson scored 28 while Sonstelie had 17 points and 10 rebounds.
The Blue Hawks can win the DAC title outright with a victory over Dakota State tonight, but he knows they must play better if they want to accomplish that goal.
"We can't allow ourselves to get in that mode where we're in a passive mode," Fridley said. "... We're one game away from a lot of great things."
DICKINSON STATE (20-6, 11-2 DAC): Kelsey Boedeker 7-19 6-8 22, Ashley Emmons 5-8 0-0 11, Kylee Bittner 4-7 0-0 10, Kia Herbel 2-3 6-8 10, Jennifer Marquez 2-7 4-4 8, Mindy Vanderpan 2-3 0-0 6, Kelly Pankratz 2-8 0-1 5, Juanita Newsom 2-3 0-0 4, Michelle Kubas 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 27-60 16-21 78.
MAYVILLE STATE (3-22, 1-12 DAC): Erin Ericson 8-19 7-10 28, Ali Sonstelie 7-13 1-2 17, Kelli Smart 1-4 4-4 6, Kelli Boekelheide 2-5 0-0 6, Katelyn Peters 2-3 1-2 5, Lindsay Sannes 1-4 2-5 4, Kelsey Adamsen 1-6 0-0 2, Sarah Bakke 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 22-55 15-23 68.
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Halftime: DSU 40-34. Total fouls: DSU 20, MSU 16. Fouled out: Sannes. 3-point goals: DSU 8-22 (Bittner 2-4, Vanderpan 2-3, Boedeker 2-8, Pankratz 1-5, Emmons 1-2), MSU 9-22 (Ericson 5-9, Boekelheide 2-5, Sonstelie 2-6, Smart 0-1, Adamsen 0-1). Rebounds: DSU 40 (Herbel 10), MSU 33 (Sonstelie 10). Assists: DSU 15 (Boedeker 6), MSU 13 (Adamsen 4). Steals: DSU 6 (Boedeker 3), MSU 4 (Sonstelie 2). Blocks: DSU 1 (Herbel), MSU 4 (Peters 3). Turnovers: DSU 11 (two with 3), MSU 12 (Smart 4).
