DES MOINES, IOWA - A season after a 102-51 loss to Dakota State in the first round of the NAIA national tournament, the Grand View women's basketball team beat the nationally ranked No. 3 Pirates 83-75 on Saturday afternoon. Dakota State plays a fast-paced, full-court press for the entire game, and the Vikings led from the first basket to the last.
Ellie Knock scored the first basket on a layup assisted by Lily Smith, and Claire Galbraith followed with a three-pointer, also assisted by Smith. The Vikings handled the press early and got Knock and Galbraith inside, building an 11-2 lead. Late in the quarter they went on an 8-0 run, with Knock and Smith scoring at the free-throw line and Galbraith adding a jumper and two more free throws. Grand View led 21-7 after one quarter, and its biggest lead of the day, 14, came in the final seconds of the period.
Dakota State started hitting shots in the second quarter and outscored the Vikings 17-9, cutting the lead to six by halftime. Knock and Taryn Ottemann scored inside, and Addalyn Rooney added a free throw to make it 30-24 at the break.
The third quarter went much the same way. Dakota State hit some threes to get within three at 35-32, and Grand View answered each time. Eva Solseth hit a three assisted by Knock, Rooney added a layup and a three, and Gabby Dwanyen scored from the line. When Dakota State pulled within four, Knock hit a three assisted by Galbraith. Solseth hit another three just before the quarter ended, and Grand View went into the fourth up 56-49.
Dakota State cut the lead to 60-58 with about five minutes left. The Vikings responded right away. Dwanyen scored a layup assisted by Solseth, Ottemann added another inside, and Knock scored on consecutive layups assisted by Galbraith. She then hit a three assisted by Smith to make it 72-62. Dakota State fouled late to stop the clock, and Grand View went 14-20 from the line in the quarter, with Ottemann, Smith and Solseth closing out the game.
It was a big win for a team under new head coach, Kelli Greenway.
GAME NOTES:
- Ellie Knock led the Vikings with 24 points on 9-11 shooting, including 2-2 from three-point range, and added 6 rebounds and 2 blocks.
- Claire Galbraith scored 16 points with 7 rebounds and 4 assists, while Taryn Ottemann had 12 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks.
- Eva Solseth added 11 points, and Lily Smith had 9 points and a team-high 9 assists.
- Grand View went 28-39 from the free-throw line and held Dakota State to 11-44 (25.0%) from three-point range.
- The Vikings outrebounded Dakota State 41-35 and had an 8-2 advantage in blocks.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Grand View improves to 1-1 on the season after losing its home opener to Briar Cliff. The Vikings play next at Viterbo University (Wis.) in La Crosse, Wis., on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 7:30 p.m.
