Dakota State women gear up for NAIA National Tournament
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The Dakota State women are back in the NAIA National Tournament for the fifth straight season and just like last year, the Trojans won't have to travel for their opening round games.
DSU began their postseason by winning the North Star Athletic Association Championship, with a 65-59 win over Jamestown.
'I just think it gives us a lot of momentum going into the postseason here. We have some really tough teams in our conference. We've had a lot of battles this season and solidifying that win meant everything,' DSU junior Tabor Teel said. 'We work really hard for moments like this and it solidifies that it's all worth it.'
The Trojans enter the national tournament with a 24-4 record, their best mark in four seasons. However, success on the court isn't the main focus for DSU.
'Our program is about way more than just putting a ball in the basket. It's about teaching life lessons that we can carry far past basketball,' DSU head coach David Moe said. 'I've been very fortunate to have amazing people in the program who have bought into that culture.'
The first two rounds of the NAIA National Tournament are played at various locations. In the last five years, Dakota State has traveled to Nebraska, Montana and Kansas. However, just like last season, DSU will be a host site this year.
'Getting more people to come to Madison and feel what makes Madison so special, the people, I think is one of the coolest things in the world,' Moe said. 'We feel very honored to be able to host.'
DSU is hoping for a long run in this year's tournament and they'll keep their focus on playing Trojan basketball.
'We're an incredibly hard team to scout. Anyone of us can score 20 points. Anyone of us could get ten rebounds,' DSU senior Angela Slattery said.
'We're going to stay true to who we are. We're going to stay true to our identity on the floor, which is to be fast, free and fun,' Moe said. 'We're going to pick up full court. We're going to trap and run around. That's how we play.'
DSU will host Montana Tech in the first round of the NAIA National Tournament on Friday night at 5:30.
OTHER LOCAL NAIA TEAMS
Here's a look at the other local teams in action on Friday.
Dordt is another host site and they'll host Haskell in the first round. Dakota Wesleyan will play in Oklahoma against The Master's and Northwestern will cross paths with MidAmerica Nazarene in Kansas on Friday night.
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