Lancers upset #9 Trojans

BY SCOTT MORRISON

Entering their non-conference match against the ninth ranked Dakota State Trojans, the Lancers knew they would need a complete team effort in order to come out on top.

The Lady Lancers received this along with much more as they handed the Trojans their first loss of the season with a 69-61 victory at Ladie Cimpl Arena.

Junior guard Katelynn Kunz led the way by scoring a game high 21 points coming off the bench. This included a 9-for-11 performance from the free-throw line.

The Lancers bench accounted for over half of their point production with 36 points coming from five different girls.

“Our bench was huge for us tonight,” Lancer coach Chuck Iverson said. “I look at our team as not having a starting five, but a starting ten or 11 girls that all have different abilities.”

The game started as the Lancers jumped out to a quick 9-5 lead after sophomore guard Michelle Amundson converted lay-ups on two consecutive possessions.

Their lead increased steadily throughout the first half until sophomore guard Lacey Powell knocked down two 3-pointers and two free-throws as part of a 13-2 Lancer run.

Powell’s timely shooting accounted for all eight of her points and gave the Lancers a 32-18 lead headed into the half.

“We got some good looks at the basket. Good execution, recognition, and finding open holes all lead to our early lead,” Iverson said.

“We have great team chemistry. We are very unselfish and have a no I in team attitude which allows for different players to step up on different nights.”

The Lancers defense forced numerous turnovers and held Dakota State to 33% from the field at the half.

In the second half the Lancers clamped down tightly on defense by never allowing Dakota State to put together a comeback run.

Kunz, who went 5-14 from the field, kept the Lancers ahead by driving to the hoop and forcing the Trojan defenders to send her to the line.

This worked hand-in-hand with a couple of key steals by senior guard Tevan Wenbourne, and continual turnovers by the Trojan offense.
Wenbourne was 4-for-6 from the field with ten points, three rebounds, and two steals.

“Mount Marty plays great defense and you know that everything is going to be contested,” Trojan coach Jeff Dittman said.

“They were quicker to the ball and we were forced to react to their style rather than forcing them to react to ours.”

The Trojans moved to 5-1 on the young season and will look to rebound in order to remain on the right track.

“We are going to have to learn how to play defense and rebound the basketball in order to get back to where we want to be,” Dittman said.

With the win, the Lancers (4-2) improved to 3-0 at home and helped to give them a considerable boost of confidence headed into conference play.

They begin conference play on the road against Morningside College on Wednesday, November 28, and at Hastings on Saturday, December 1.

The Lancers will certainly need to continue their team oriented performance in order to gain the upper hand in the Great Plains Athletic Conference.