Pair of double-doubles pace Blue Hawks in road win at Viterbo

Sagan Osborne | Dickinson State Sports Information Director

LA CROSSE, WIS. – Samantha Oase (14 points, 14 rebounds) and McKenzie Johnson (15 points, 10 rebounds) both put up double-doubles to lead Dickinson State to an important road victory over Viterbo University, 69-66, on Friday afternoon.

The Blue Hawks shot 40 percent from three, and 43 percent from the field, in an efficient shooting effort that saw nine players score, including three in double figures. Dickinson State put together one of their best starts of the year, scoring 24 points in the first ten minutes as Lindsey Peterson went 3-3 from the field and scored 8 points to give the Blue Hawks a 24-19 lead heading into the second quarter.

The offense continued to flow in the second quarter, as Johnson scored 8 of her 15 points in the second ten minutes and Oase chipped in 6 more. A Kayden Steele free throw gave DSU their largest lead of the game at 14 with 2:18 left in the half. A quick 6-0 run to close the half got the V-Hawks back to within eight, 41-33, headed into the locker room.

The eight-point lead held for the first five minutes of the second half, but a rally by the hosts made it just a two-point game going into the fourth quarter, 49-47. Viterbo took their first lead of the game, 50-49, with 9 minutes left. The lead changed hands a couple more times before Viterbo again took the lead, 64-63, on a pair of free throws with 1:35 left. An Oase free throw on the next DSU possession, however, gave the Blue Hawks the lead again, and they were able to hang on to win as a desperation three rimmed in and out for the V-Hawks.

"It was a great team win on the road," said head coach Eric Nelson. "Lindsay, Sam, and Mack played really well offensively which helped down the stretch. We need to do a better job of rebounding and taking care of the ball tomorrow if we want to be successful. We will enjoy the win for a couple hours and then turn our focus to Waldorf"

WHATS NEXT

The Blue Hawks will head to Forest City, Iowa to take on Waldorf University at 2:00 pm MT for their final road conference game of the season.