JAMESTOWN – An interesting doubleheader of NSAA openers led to a streak continuing and a tough loss for the home team.
University of Jamestown Women’s Basketball earned its sixth consecutive win, defeating Dickinson State 75-60 Friday at Harold Newman Arena. After the Jimmie men came back from a 14-point deficit to force overtime, Dickinson State held off UJ 81-77.
Women: (24)Jamestown 75, Dickinson State 60
Despite the final margin, Jamestown (8-1, 1-0 NSAA) couldn’t pull away until the second half, beset by poor shooting. But a huge rebounding advantage, especially in offensive rebounds, and numerous DSU turnovers helped the Jimmies along.
Kate Cordes played only just under 18 minutes before fouling out early in the fourth quarter, but still scored 18 points and had 12 rebounds, an assist and a steal. Cordes knocked down three three-pointers. Kate Busek scored 10 with three assists. Megan Oswald tallied nine with nine rebounds.
Kayden Steele scored 14 and Anhelica Shanrock notched 12 points for Dickinson State (3-7, 0-1).
Dickinson State led 8-4 three minutes into the game before the Jimmies scored the next seven points, four on Jessika Lofstrom free throws, in a stretch of 4:13. DSU took the lead back at 12-11 after one quarter on jumpers by Samantha Oase and Tinley Pierson.
With Jamestown down a point, the Jimmies had another 7-0 run in the second quarter, all by Cordes, but shortly after that, she picked up her third foul and sat out the last 5:34 of the first half. The Jimmies still hung on to the lead with a Sara Lenz three-pointer and a Busek shot in the paint helping Jamestown to a 31-27 halftime lead.
At the start of the third quarter, Jamestown grabbed control, starting the frame with a 11-4 run over the first 3:38 on a three-point play by Busek, two Cordes three-pointers and a post bucket by Hannah Hagel. But with 4:44 left in the third quarter, Cordes again had to sit after picking up her fourth foul. Still, Dickinson State could come no closer than six and trailed 52-44 after three quarters.
Busek nailed a three-pointer to put UJ up 58-48 with 7:43 left and Cordes fouled out 33 seconds later. Still, DSU couldn’t draw any closer than nine, as the Jimmies had a 43-34 rebound edge, including a remarkable 19-1 in offensive rebounds.
The Jimmies shot a season-low 32 percent, but also hit 22 of 25 free throws. Through Friday, the Jimmies’ 84 percent free throw shooting was the best in NAIA women’s basketball.
Jamestown earned its 29th straight win in the series with Dickinson State, dating back to 2009.
On Saturday, the Jimmies will try to extend their winning streak against Montana Western in Miles City, Montana. Coverage will begin at 5:00 PM on Saturday on The Voice of the Jimmies, Jamestown 107.1.
Men: Dickinson State 81, Jamestown 77 (OT)
Jaiden Wright hit a go-ahead shot with 30 seconds left in overtime to give Dickinson State (5-5, 1-0 NSAA) the victory in a thrilling conference opener.
Jamestown (4-6, 0-1) had trailed by as many as 14 points in the second half before forging a 10-2 run over the last 4:04 of regulation to force the extra period. Shots in the paint by Will Cordes and Silas Bennion were followed by two Spencer Barr free throws with 2:17 left to bring UJ within two at 67-65. Anthony Walters split two free throws with 1:35 left for a 67-66 DSU lead. Cordell Stinson hit two at the line for a 69-66 Blue Hawk lead with 1:17 to go. A Bennion drive 10 seconds later made the score 69-68 for Dickinson State. The Blue Hawks then had the ball in the last 30 seconds, but a turnover led to a Bennion steal and foul by DSU’s John Evans with 14 seconds left. Bennion missed the first free throw, then hit the second. A potential winning shot by Dickinson State’s Kose Egbule missed with two seconds left.
In overtime, the Blue Hawks took four two-point leads, only to have the Jimmies answer each time before Wright’s go-ahead shot. Bennion missed a go-ahead three pointer with 30 seconds left before Daniel clinched the game for DSU with two free throws.
A 19-19 tie with 6:56 left in the first half was broken with a 10-0 Dickinson State run in just 1:45, aided by two three-pointers from Trey Stevens. Jamestown cut the lead to 33-28 before DSU led 41-33 at halftime.
Stevens scored 15 on five three-pointers for Dickinson State. Cordell Stinson also scored 15 with seven rebounds and had the Blue Hawks’ first six overtime points. Evans hit 14. Egbule scored 11 with 18 rebounds.
Walters led Jamestown with 24 points off the bench. Bennion scored 19 with eight rebounds. Jimmy Llinas poured in 14 points with 10 rebounds.
The Jimmies will face another future NSIC opponent Monday with a rematch with Northern State in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Last month in Jamestown, UJ defeated NSU in men’s basketball for the first time since 1948. Coverage of Monday’s game will begin at 6:30 PM on The Voice of the Jimmies, Jamestown 107.1.