Defensive effort pushes No. 9 DWU past Flames in conference action

OMAHA, Neb. – After holding the College of Saint Mary to just two points in the fourth quarter, the No. 9 Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team defeated the Flames 68-29 in Great Plains Athletic Conference action Saturday in Omaha, Neb.

 The Tigers (15-3, 7-2 GPAC) never trailed in the contest as they got out to an early 20-12 lead after the first quarter.

 DWU continued to build on their lead, scoring 18 points in the second quarter and taking a 39-18 lead at halftime.

 The second half saw much of the same success as the Tigers held the Flames (2-15, 1-8 GPAC) to 10 points, while DWU scored 30 points in the half.

 Amber Bray (Anoka, Minn.) was 4-of-5 from beyond the arc and led the team with 22 points and five rebounds, while Ashley Bray (Anoka, Minn.) added 15 points and six rebounds. Rylie Osthus (De Smet, S.D.) notched eight points and six rebounds, as Madison Mathews (Draper, S.D.) scored five points.

 The Tigers shot 43 percent from the field while their defense held CSM to just 18 percent shooting in the game. DWU outrebounded the Flames 52-19 and finished with 15 assists.

 DWU hits the road again for a GPAC matchup against No. 18 Northwestern College at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Orange City, Iowa.