Lady Bucs Upset #2 Bismarck State in Conference Play
Playing in their last home game of the season, DCC sophomores Mara Johnson, Ejanae Coopwood and Alexius Foster went out in style by defeating the #2 team in the conference Bismarck State College 83-77.
Dawson Community College came out of the gates striking hard with a ferocious 2-3 zone, making it difficult for the Lady Mystics to score inside and outside. The Lady Bucs went into halftime leading 43-29. However, in the 3rd quarter, Bismarck would use a stifling full court 1-2-2 zone press of their own, and dominate the quarter outscoring DCC 29-19. That same full court pressure carried the momentum into the 4th quarter, cutting a 20-point deficit, and Bismarck led the game by 4 points late in the game. Dawson would call a couple of timeouts, make a few adjustments and kept their composure to knock down key free throws down the stretch by Tasia Moore, Foster and Coopwood, sealing the victory.
BSC benefitted from 30 points and 7 rebounds by the nation’s leading scorer Amber Stevahn, while Alexius Foster would lead Dawson with 27 points of her own and 6 rebounds. Ejanae Coopwood had 21 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals. Sarah Miranda chimed in with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals. Kitawna Little Light made a couple crucial three-pointers, having 9 points and 5 assists. Arena Plenty made some crucial late game baskets and had 5 points for the game. Moore chipped in with 9 points and 5 rebounds. DCC’s bench poured in 23 points.
Dawson outrebounded Bismarck 39-29 and shot better overall percentages for the game: 61% from the field, 55% from the three-line and 71% from the foul line. Bismarck forced 29 Dawson turnovers and converted 31 points from them.
Head Coach Romeo Lagmay, Jr. was thrilled about the game, “All year long we knew one thing this team always had, and that was ‘fight.’ If a team has the fight in them, then everything else falls into place, especially respect. We cannot be more proud of this team winning in this fashion. We had lots of problems versus their zone press, but we kept our cool, and were determined to win this game. It’s great to have this momentum going into the conference tournament and sending our sophomores out with a smile.”
Dawson will play this Friday, March 1st at 7:30 pm against Lake Region State College in the opening round of the Mon-Dak Conference Tournament. The site will be held by regular season champions Miles Community College in Miles City, MT. Winner of the opening round will face the #2 seed on Saturday in the semifinal round.
