Bray nets new career-high as No. 8 Tiger women top Midland

FREMONT, Neb. – Senior Ashley Bray (Anoka, Minn.) had a career performance on Tuesday night, tallying 30 points and six rebounds, helping the No. 8 Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team to a 79-67 victory over Midland University in Great Plains Athletic Conference action in Fremont, Neb.

 Ashley Bray got things started on the right track for the Tigers, sinking her first 3-pointer of the game to take an early 5-2 lead over the Warriors. It was a back-and-forth affair for much of the first quarter, as the DWU took is largest lead at 19-14, thanks to a jumper by Rylie Osthus (De Smet, S.D.)

 DWU remained in control heading into the second quarter, leading by as much as 10 points. The tough Tiger defense was able to keep the Warriors at bay, while the Tiger bench outscored Midland 7-0 in the quarter.

 Coming out of the locker room, the Tigers built a double-digit lead on back-to-back made free throws by Ashley Bray. Later in the quarter, DWU took its largest lead of the game at 14 points off a free throw by Madison Mathews (Draper, S.D.)

 The Tigers continued to build their lead in the final quarter, leading by 18 points with 5:23 to play in the contest after Ashley Bray connected on three-straight 3-pointers, leading to a perfect night shooting from beyond the arc for the former NAIA All-American.

 Midland came with seven points, however four made free throws put the Tigers back in the driver's seat to secure the victory.

 DWU scored 17 points off the bench compared to six by Midland, while outrebounding the Warriors 29-24.

 Kynedi Cheeseman (Alexandria, S.D.) added 13 points and four rebounds, while Osthus added 10 points. Amber Bray (Anoka, Minn.) had nine points and six rebounds. The Tigers shot 50 percent from the field and 70 percent from the charity stripe.

 The Tigers (7-1, 2-1 GPAC) step out of conference play to visit Presentation College at 7 p.m. on Nov. 29 in Aberdeen, S.D.