MENOMONIE (November 29, 2013) - UW-Stout forced 29 turnovers, but had a difficult time converting off the turnovers and lost the opening game of the UW-Stout Thanksgiving Turkey Shootout, 68-63, to Dakota State University, Friday at Johnson Fieldhouse.

Dakota State (4-5) tallied 19 first half turnovers and Stout came back from an early deficit to take a 32-29 halftime lead. The Trojans took the lead back four minutes into the second half and relinquished it briefy in the final two minutes of the game, but tied the game at 62-62.

With the scored knotted, Dakota's Alyson Drooger blocked a shot, grabbed the rebound and would get the assist on the go ahead basket by Kyle Westover, then would block a second shot less than 20 seconds later. All told, Drooger finished with eight blocked shots.

The Blue Devils (2-4) shot 31.6 percent (24-76) from the floor, while Dakota State connected on 45.3 percent of their shots (24-53).

Dakota's Westover led all players with 24 points, draining three 3-point shots. Erin Rabenberg scored 19 points.

Brea Boomer (Jr, Grand Portage, Minn) and Shelby Sterba (Jr, Tony) each finished with 15 points. Sterba pulled down 10 rebounds to lead all players.

Stout will face St. Scholastica, Sunday, Dec. 1 at 2 p.m.