Taylor University outlasts No. 9 Tigers in the desert

PHOENIX Ariz. – The No. 9 Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team squared off against (RV) Taylor University in their final game of the Fultz Memorial ACU Holiday Classic and fell, 66-61 Saturday in Phoenix, Ariz.

 Rylie Osthus (De Smet, S.D.) gave the Tigers (13-3, 5-2 GPAC) a 7-5 lead after nailing a three-point shot in the opening minutes of the game.

 Midway through the second quarter, Ashley Bray (Anoka, Minn.) found the bottom of the net on back-to-back 3-pointers to help DWU regain the lead, 26-21.

 Taylor would close the gap, but it was Kynedi Cheeseman (Alexandria, S.D.) with a jumper to give the Tigers a 34-29 lead heading into the break.

 Osthus scored five-straight points for DWU in the beginning of the second half to help the Tigers extend their lead to seven points.

 The Trojans (10-6) made a three-point shot to cut the DWU lead to three points. However, Cheeseman swished a 3-pointer of her own to push the lead back to six points.

 With DWU leading 55-48 with 7:47 left, Taylor scored 15-straight points to gain a 63-55 lead with 2:23 remaining.

 Sarah Carr (Huron, S.D.) made a layup and moments later knocked down a jump shot to bring the Tigers within four points with under a minute to play. But, the late run was not enough for DWU.

 Cheeseman scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds, while Oshtus tallied 13 points. Carr notched 10 points and six rebounds, as Jessica Mieras (Sioux Falls, S.D.) added 10 points. The Tigers shot 36 percent from the field and 87 percent from the free-throw line.

 DWU returns home to play Great Plains Athletic Conference foe, Morningside College at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Corn Palace in Mitchell.