DWU women cruise over Doane in GPAC battle

CRETE, Neb. – The No. 9 Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team came away from a tough Great Plains Athletic Conference road environment with a 63-43 victory over Doane College Saturday in Crete, Neb.

 The DWU Tigers (19-2, 10-2 GPAC) got out to the quick lead and never looked back as they led the Doane Tigers (11-11, 5-7 GPAC) 15-7 at the end of the first quarter. The first field goals in the second quarter for DWU were three consecutive 3-pointers. The last one was by Ashley Bray (Anoka, Minn.) giving the Tigers the 24-9 lead with 5:57 left in the half. Doane would cut the lead to 10 points in the final minutes of the half as DWU took a 29-19 lead at the break.

 Halfway through the third quarter, Doane chipped away at the DWU lead cutting it down to four points. However, DWU answered with a 10-0 run to take the 44-29 lead with 2:09 remaining in the third quarter. The Tigers took a 19-point lead late in the game after Sarah Carr (Huron, S.D.) slashed through the lane for a layup. The final points of the game came from an Amber Bray (Anoka, Minn.) 3-pointer to clinch the 63-43 win for the DWU Tigers.

 Amber Bray led all scorers with 17 points and six rebounds, while Erica Herrold (Dimock, S.D.) scored 15 points and five rebounds. Rylie Osthus (De Smet, S.D.) tallied nine points and had six assists and Ashley Bray added nine points. DWU shot 40 percent from the field, while shooting 48 percent from 3-point range.

 The Tigers remain on the road as they play GPAC rival Morningside College at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Sioux City, Iowa.