Tigers poised to make statement in National Tournament

MITCHELL, S.D. – After being ousted from the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship in the second round last year, the Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team wanted to prove themselves, and they did just that throughout the 2017-18 season.

 The Tigers wasted no time proving themselves this season as they were ranked No. 8 in the Coaches' Preseason Top-25 Poll and began the season with a top-10 matchup against then-No. 9 the University of Jamestown at the Corn Palace on Oct. 31. DWU shot past the Jimmies on their way to an 87-69 victory to begin the season. A few weeks later, DWU traveled to Winfield, Kan., to battle then-No. 16 Friends University. The Tigers cruised past the Falcons on their way to a 100-70 drubbing. DWU began the season jumping out to a 10-1 record, moving up to No. 6 in the second release of the Coaches' Top-25 Poll. After hitting a rough patch midway through the season, the Tigers rolled off 10-straight wins, and 12 wins in their last 14 games.

 The Tigers finished the season 27-6 overall and third in the Great Plains Athletic Conference with a 16-4 record. DWU has recorded eight victories over top-25 teams, including a come-from-behind victory on the road against then-No. 6 Jamestown on Jan. 24, 86-75. Each of the six losses have come against top-25 teams or teams receiving votes in the Coaches' Top-25 Polls. The 27 wins marked the third-consecutive season of 20 or more wins, helping propel the Tigers to their third-straight NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship appearance. DWU has played the toughest schedule in the nation and ranks No. 4 in the NAIA according to the Massey computer ratings.

 The Tigers secured an automatic birth to the national tournament by way of reaching the conference tournament final. DWU opens the 2018 NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship as the No. 2 seed in the Naismith Bracket and take on No. 7 seed Indiana-University East (Richmond, Ind.) today at 7:30 p.m. at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

 The Tigers were propelled by senior twin sister duo, Amber Bray (Anoka, Minn.) and Ashley Bray (Anoka, Minn.). Amber leads the team with 14.4 points per game and 6.6 rebounds per game, while leading the team with six double-doubles this season. She has scored double-digits in 24 games and scored at least 20 points in five games, including a 41-point career high against Dakota State University. Amber was named All-GPAC First Team for the first time in her career after a breakout senior season. Ashley is not far behind her sister while she is second on the team averaging 14.3 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game. She ranks eighth in the NAIA in three-point field goal percentage shooting 46.6 percent and ranks 15^th nationally in field-goal percentage at 55.1 percent. Ashley was also named All-GPAC First Team.

 Rylie Osthus (De Smet, S.D.) continues to lead the team as the floor general this season. Osthus was named All-GPAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year after an outstanding junior campaign. She leads the team with 5.3 assists per game and 1.5 steals per game. She ranks sixth nationally with 170 total assists this season and eighth in assists per game. In her career, Osthus has tallied 961 points, 480 rebounds and 471 assists. Kynedi Cheeseman (Alexandria, S.D.) had a breakout season, setting career-highs that lifted her to the All-GPAC Second Team. She is third on the team with 13.9 points per game and 2.6 assists per game. She set a career-high against Friends University with 29 points on 11 made field goals along with 10 assists. Cheeseman has scored double figures in 25 games this season.

 Another leader at the guard position, Chesney Nagel (Springfield, S.D.) has proved to be a solid force for the Tigers in her senior season. Nagel has played in all 33 games and started in 32 games this year. She averages 3.5 points per game, 4.7 rebounds per game and 3.0 assists per game. Nagel was named All-GPAC Honorable Mention. Head women's basketball coach Jason Christensen has relied upon several key contributors off the bench this season. Sarah Carr (Huron, S.D.), Madison Mathews (Draper, S.D.), Jessica Mieras (Sioux Falls, S.D.) and Makaela Karst (Plankinton, S.D.) have played significant minutes for DWU, helping the Tigers reach the national tournament. 

 About IU-East 

 Record: 22-10

 NAIA bid: River States Conference at-large bid

 Season review: The Red Wolves boast a 22-10 record after finishing the season in the River States Conference semi-final game. IU-East has a high-scoring offense who averages 80.6 points per game and shoots 76.7 percent from the free-throw line, both ranking ninth in the NAIA. They also rank 12^th nationally in total scoring offense with 2,579 points this season and shoot 44.6 percent from the field, 13^th best in the nation. The Red Wolves are led by senior guard Tia King who averages 20.9 points per game, sixth in the NAIA. She also leads the team with 7.3 rebounds per game and 1.7 steals per game. She ranks third nationally in total scoring with 668 points this season. The only common opponent between IU-East and DWU was Olivet Nazarene University. The Red Wolves defeated Olivet Nazarene, 121-118 in overtime, while DWU defeated the Tigers, 109-75.