Tigers drop regular season finale

SEWARD, Neb. – The No. 10 Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team did not finish the regular season as they hoped as they lost to No. 2 Concordia University 53-42 in Great Plains Athletic Conference action Saturday in Seward, Neb.

 Trailing 8-5 early, the Tigers (25-5, 16-4 GPAC) tied the game after Sarah Carr (Huron, S.D.) made a jump shot, followed by a Chesney Nagel (Springfield, S.D.) free throw. Moments later, Nagel drained a 3-pointer to bring DWU within one point. However, the Bulldogs (29-1, 19-1 GPAC) made a three-point shot of their own to extend their lead back to four points.

 With less than two minutes to play in the first quarter, Rylie Osthus (De Smet, S.D.) drove to the lane and made a jump shot to make the score 15-13. Midway through the second quarter, Concordia led 27-16 until Ashley Bray (Anoka, Minn.) found herself open beyond the arc and nailed a 3-pointer to make it a 27-19 game.

 With Concordia leading 37-25 at halftime, the Bulldogs began the third quarter with a 10-0 run. Ashley Bray brought that run to an end after draining a three-point shot. Later in the third quarter, Osthus knocked in a pair of free throws to make it a 50-30 game heading to the fourth quarter.

 Ashley Bray began the fourth quarter with another 3-pointer, followed by a jump shot made by Amber Bray (Anoka, Minn.). Jump shots by Kynedi Cheeseman (Alexandria, S.D.) and Osthus made it a 10-point game. But, the comeback fell short as DWU dropped its final game of the regular season.

 Osthus led the way for the Tigers with 10 points and nine rebounds, while Ashley Bray notched nine points. Carr tallied five points and four rebounds, as Amber Bray added five points. DWU shot 31 percent from the field and outrebounded Concordia 42-36.

 The Tigers host the first round of the GPAC Tournament against Midland University at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Corn Palace in Mitchell.