Tigers push past Midland to keep pace in GPAC race

FREMONT, Neb. – For the second-straight game, the No. 8 Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team started fast to begin the second quarter to help push the Tigers past Midland University, 67-59 in a Great Plains Athletic Conference contest Saturday afternoon in Fremont.

 The Tigers (21-4, 12-4 GPAC) began the second quarter with three straight free throws and extended their lead to nine points following a Kristin Sabers (Mitchell, S.D.) layup. The Warriors (14-11, 6-10 GPAC) answered with seven consecutive points to cut the DWU lead to 25-23. DWU finished the half on a 17-5 run with five 3-pointers made to take a 42-30 lead into the break.

 Erica Herrold (Dimock, S.D.) started the scoring in the first quarter with a layup to give the Tigers the early 2-0 lead. However, Midland took the lead and held onto it until 4:35 left in the opening quarter. Sabers nailed a jump-shot to give the Tigers the lead that they would not surrender the remainder of the game.

 Rylie Osthus (De Smet, S.D.) and Sarah Carr (Huron, S.D.) opened the second half with nine combined points for the Tigers. Ashley Bray (Anoka, Minn.) continued the scoring as she sliced through the lane and made a layup to give DWU the largest lead of the game at 17 points.

 Midland attempted to close in on the Tigers in the fourth quarter. Following a Warrior layup with 1:33 left, the Tigers' lead was 64-57. However, Osthus and Chesney Nagel (Springfield, S.D.) made three free throws down the stretch to seal the 67-59 victory.

 Sabers led the way with 18 points while Osthus added a double-double with 12 points, ten rebounds and five assists. Ashley Bray scored 11 points and five rebounds as Carr tallied nine points and five boards off the bench. The Tigers went 22-of-49 for 44.9 percent from the field and 17-of-20 for 85 percent from the free-throw line.

 The Tigers stay on the road for their next GPAC battle against Briar Cliff University at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Sioux City, Iowa.