SIOUX CITY, Iowa - The Carroll College Women's Basketball team continued their pursuit of the program's first Red Banner, toppling (6) Dakota State 71-56 in an NAIA Women's Basketball Championship Quarterfinal game at the Tyson Events Center on Saturday afternoon.

Nothing was going to stop the Fighting Saints (28-5, 14-1) from advancing to the semifinal for the first time in the 50 year history of the Carroll Women's Basketball program. Stifling defense, hot shooting, and unwavering confidence propelled the Saints to the 15-point win over the Trojans (28-7, 11-1), avenging a loss suffered just over one year ago on the exact same court.

The Saints were locked in right from the time they arrived, with one collective goal on their mind. Return the favor

Last year's Round of 16 loss to the Trojans was at the forefront of the Carroll minds, and the added motivation helped spur one of the team's best performances of the season.

Right from the opening tip, Carroll was in control. After a rough start in the 2023 meeting between the teams, Jamie Pickens (Helena, Mont. / GR) announced her presence immediately. The Frontier Player of the Year scored six quick points, and the Saints raced out to an eight-point advantage by the first media timeout following a cold-blooded three-pointer from Willa Albrecht (Billings, Mont. / R-JR). The Trojans would find their footing late in the frame, but Carroll would carry a 20-14 lead into the second.

The Carroll front court was outstanding in the game, and the tandem of Pickens and Maddie Geritz (Boise, Idaho / GR) terrorized Trojan defenders down low. The Carroll lead ballooned to as much as 13 points at the three minute mark, but it wouldn't stay there. A 7-0 run by Dakota State over the final minute of the half culminated with a last-second logo three-pointer from Lilli Mackley, trimming the Carroll lead to just two points at the break, 34-32. The three was reviewed, and upheld, much to the delight of the large Dakota State crowd, who had been extremely quiet to that point.

Pickens, the double-double machine, posted yet another one in the first half alone. The 6-2 forward was unstoppable, scoring 16 points and pulling down 12 boards, a complete game for most every player in the nation, all in the first 20 minutes.

The Saints also beat the Trojans at their own game. Dakota State entered the game averaging 31.3 attempted three-pointers per game, and boasted an 80.2 points per game average. The Trojans shot just 25 percent from deep in the first half (4-16), while the Saints were much more efficient (4-8)  from deep, in addition to having the inside scoring advantage.

Pickens, Geritz, and sixth-man Isabelle Erickson (Broadview, Mont. / R-SO) pounded the Trojans inside the arc in the third. The trio combined for 15 points in the frame, and a continued outstanding team defensive effort helped break the game open. Carroll held Dakota State to just eight points in the quarter, stretching their lead to 51-40 heading into the final 10 minutes.

The final 10 minutes felt like 10 hours for the majority of the Carroll faithful in attendance, but the Saints simply were not to be denied. Their second 20-point quarter of the night put an emphatic close on the program's first quarterfinal victory. As a team, Carroll went 10-12 from the stripe to ice out one of the biggest wins in Carroll history, 71-56.

Defense was the big takeaway from the quarterfinal win. Carroll held one of the nation's best offenses to just 31.7 percent shooting. The Trojans scored 24 less points than their season average (80.2 ppg), while the Saints shot 49 percent from the floor in one of their most efficient outings of the year.

Pickens solidified her bid for NAIA National Player of the Year, posting a line of 24 points, 18 rebounds, six assists, one block and a steal.

Maddie Gertiz, the unofficial mayor of Sioux City, Iowa, continued her great play at the Tyson Event Center with a 13 point, 11 rebound double-double.

Addi Ekstrom (Bozeman, Mont. / JR) stretched the defense, looking good from the perimeter with eight points and three assists.

The Tojans had three players finish with double-digit scoring figures, Angela Slattery (16), Lilli Mackley (14), and Cierra Watkins with 10 points off of the bench.

The history-making win sets up one of the most intriguing games in Montana collegiate history. The Saints will now play Frontier Conference foe (2) Providence on Monday night at 5 p.m. (MDT) with a spot in the NAIA National Championship game on the line. 

Visit www.carrollathletics.com for a preview of the all-Frontier semifinal, and to stay up to date with everything going on in Carroll Athletics.