Lady T's Thump Mt. Marty in Opener
By Dan Holsworth
Madison Daily Leader

     Dakota State University, despite some suspect early shooting, forged an 8-0 game-opening lead and never looked back Saturday as the Lady Trojans produced a 66-52 win over Mount Marty College at Yankton.

     "We started the game missing six layup opportunities, but we held Mt. Marty scoreless for the first six minutes of the game and had an 8-0 lead before their first score," said Jeff Dittman, the Lady T's head coach.  "We maintained that lead most of the first half."

     At the intermission, DSU had tucked in a 26-18 cushion, and then spread out the difference in the game's final half.  "We started the second half by hitting nine of our first eleven field goals and was 7-8 from the free throw line," added Dittman.  "We opened the game up to about 20 points and held that lead until the last three minutes when Mt. Marty took the ball to the basket and we did a lot of fouling."

Jessica Honermann	Mandy Kruger

     DSU's offense was powered by Jessica Honermann and Mandy Kruger who had, respectively, 15 and 12 points.  The Lady T's went 23-of-55 from the field and 17-25 from the charity stripe.  Halie McClelland and Erin Nielsen also had a pair of eight-point games for the winners.

     Despite nine rebounds from Nielsen and seven by Jennie Sonne, Mt. Marty had a 41-38 rebound edge over DSU.

     On the night, Mt. Marty got 16 tilt-top points from Elisa LeLoux and 10 more from Katie Heine.  Mandy Carlson also contributed seven counters.  LeLoux completed a double-double by garnering 11 rebounds.

     "Overall, I thought our effort was excellent and our transition game looked very good at times," concluded Dittman.  "At the beginning of the second half, we executed our half-court sets very well and made shots.  But, at other times, we got very complacent and didn't attack the defense."

     DSU hosts Dordt College Wednesday in a 7 p.m. non-conference game at the DSU Fieldhouse.

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