by MITCHELL, S.D. – The College of Saint Mary basketball team had a strong second half Thursday night, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a first-half deficit. Dakota Wesleyan University defeated the Flames 81-65 at the Corn Palace.
The two teams battled in the first quarter and DWU led the Great Plains Athletic Conference contest 18-17 after the opening frame. But then the Tigers went on a tear and outscored CSM 29-9 in the second quarter to lead 47-26 at halftime.
“We played a great first quarter, but our transition defense in the second quarter was not up to our standards and we let it get away from us as we couldn’t score either,” CSM Coach Kirk Walker said.
The Flames weren’t about to quit fighting, however.
CSM fought back and outscored DWU 21-19 in the third quarter and brought the game within eight points in the final frame before eventually falling. The Flames outscored Dakota Wesleyan 18-15 in the fourth quarter.
Alyssa Laudato (SR/Palm Bay, Fla.) had a team-high 10 points for CSM, while teammates Kenzi Hoit (FR/Omaha, Neb.), Lynsey Curran (SR/Omaha, Neb.) and Trista Merrival (JR/Pine Ridge, S.D.) all scored nine. Veronica Kobza (SO/David City, Neb.) and Madison Ybarra (SO/Redlands, Calif.) each chipped in seven points. Ybarra had a game-high 11 rebounds, while Alleigh Gates (SR/East Moline, Ill.) pulled down six.
“Our effort, energy and enthusiasm – our EEE’s as we call them – were great in the entire second half,” Walker said. “We won the third and fourth quarters.
“All 11 players that were suited up scored. Madison did a great job battling inside against a lot of length and snagged 11 bounds and really worked hard. Alleigh also worked the boards well with six.”
