The Lady T's (21-10) carried the regular-season conference championship and NAIA No. 14 ranking into the game, while Tech
(20-11) was the league's runner-up and was No. 25 in the poll. 

     With the win, the Lady T's received an automatic bid to the NAIA Women's Division II Tournament, which will be played in Sioux City March 7-13.

     The first minutes saw each team battle back and forth with Jennie Malone hitting a free throw for Tech at the 15:26 mark of the first half, knotting the game at 5-5.  From that point on, the Lady T's took charge of the game, enjoying their biggest lead, 40-22, when Angela Carr scored off a turnover with 5 1/2 minutes left in the half.

     Carr powered DSU's balanced-scoring offense with 17 points on 5-of-9 field goal shooting and a 4-6 tour at the free throw line.  She helped the Lady T's to 55-percent, 31-56 field goal shooting and an 18-24 effort at the charity strip.

     Jessica VanLoy, Jill Hansen, Nicole Geraets and Laura Tewes were DSU's other double-figure scorers, more than countering the 34-point performance of Tech's Melanie Vedvei, the DAC's Player of the Year.  VanLoy had 13 points, while Hanson, Geraets and Tewes each had 10 points.

     "With five players scoring in double figures and shooting 55 percent for the game, our offense was executing very well," said DSU Coach Jeff Dittman.  "We were solid both on the inside and outside, and did an excellent job of attacking their pressure."

     DSU's defense limited Tech to just 30-percent, 24-79, field goal shooting.  Bethany Holyoak tacked on 11 points and Amber DeWeerd 10 to Vedvei's display. 

     Off the boards, the Lady T's manufactured a 48-40 edge over the lady Hardrockers.  Tewes yanked down 13 rebounds, completing a double-double night.  Maria Gengler added nine rebounds, Sara Nelson seven and VanLoy six. 

     Dittman thought the Lady T's could have rebounded better.  "The only weakness in our game tonight was our defensive rebounding.  We let Tech get to the offensive boards too often.  We'll have to be much better in the national tournament or we could find ourselves in a lot of trouble."

     Nelson also had four blocked shots and five points, while VanLoy added three steals.  Geraets and Hansen each had six assists.

     For Tech, Vedvei had a double-double night, pulling down 13 rebounds.  She also had eight steals.

     Dittman said the Lady T's fan support has played a key role in their success this season.  "We want to thank the Madison community, the DSU faculty, staff and students for their support this year," he said.  "In particular, the atmosphere they created in the Fieldhouse throughout the playoffs was fantastic.  Our athletes are very appreciative of the energy they brought to the games.  Hopefully, they can make plans to attend the national tournament games."