ABERDEEN, S.D. – A suffocating defensive performance in the final ten minutes propelled the University of Jamestown women's basketball team to a decisive 65-48 victory over Northern State University on Wednesday night at Wachs Arena.
Clinging to a narrow five-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, the Jimmies (3-2, 1-0 NSIC) clamped down, holding the Wolves to just six points in the final frame while pouring in 18 of their own to seal the conference road win.
Daviney Dreckman paced a balanced Jimmie offense with a team-high 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting while adding five rebounds. She was joined in double figures by three teammates, showcasing the depth of the Jamestown attack.
Emily Kurkowski provided a spark with 14 points, including two three-pointers and a perfect 4-for-4 effort from the free-throw line. Haidyn Crockett chipped in 11 points, knocking down two triples, while Samantha Paulsen was a force on both ends of the floor, finishing with 10 points, a team-high six rebounds, and four steals.
The contest began as a back-and-forth affair. Jamestown took an 18-16 lead after the first quarter, fueled by efficient early offense. The second quarter turned into a defensive grind, with both teams scoring 10 points apiece, sending UJ into the locker room with a slim 28-26 halftime advantage.
The intensity ramped up in the third quarter. While Northern State's Izzy Moore—who led all scorers with 17 points—tried to keep the Wolves within striking distance, Jamestown managed to extend their lead slightly, winning the quarter 19-16 to take a 47-42 advantage into the final period.
The fourth quarter belonged entirely to Jamestown. The UJ defense forced NSU into difficult shots, limiting the hosts to just 3-of-13 shooting in the period. Meanwhile, the Jimmies converted on their opportunities, outscoring the Wolves 18-6 to turn a close game into a comfortable 17-point victory.
Defensively, Jamestown was disruptive all night, tallying 12 steals and forcing Northern State into 20 turnovers, which the Jimmies converted into 19 points. Jamestown also held the Wolves to cold shooting from beyond the arc, as Northern State finished just 2-for-17 (11.8%) from three-point range.
The Jimmies shot 42.1 percent (24-of-57) from the field and 38.9 percent (7-of-18) from deep. They also won the battle of the paint, outscoring the Wolves 28-26 inside.
With the win, Jamestown improves to 3-2 overall and starts their NSIC campaign with a 1-0 record. Northern State drops to 3-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
UJ continues conference play on Thursday, December 4 at Minot State University.
