SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – It was a balanced attack that helped lift the Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team to victory over Dakota State University, 94-74 Saturday at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Jessica Mieras (Sioux Falls, S.D.) gave DWU an early spark with a pair of baskets to give them a 10-3 lead, forcing a DSU timeout. Coming out of the timeout, Mieras knocked down another basket, this time from behind the 3-point arc.
Later in the first quarter, Makaela Karst (Plankinton, S.D.) hit a 3-pointer of her own to give the Tigers (2-0) a 22-9 lead. Senior Sarah Carr (Huron, S.D.) went on an 8-2 run by herself near the end of the first period to help give DWU a 20-point cushion heading to the second quarter.
Haylee Mork (Aberdeen, S.D.) kicked off the second stanza with a 3-pointer, followed by a Kynedi Cheeseman (Alexandria, S.D.) basket to extend the lead to 25 points.
After DWU dominated most of the first half, the Trojans (0-4) pulled within 13 points right before half. However, Mork nailed another long distance shot to give the Tigers a 49-33 advantage at halftime.
Both teams began the second half slowly as only four points were score through the first three minutes. But freshman Kamryn Heinz (Ipswich, S.D.) ended the scoring drought for DWU with back-to-back baskets.
Just as her fellow senior did in the first half, Cheeseman strung together a run by herself with a 9-2 run to push the lead back to 23 points midway through the third quarter.
The Tigers began the final period with a 20-point lead and built it to 26 points following a pair of Heinz free throws. DWU never let up, on their way to a second win on the early season.
Cheeseman led all scorers for a second-straight game with 23 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Karst added 17 points and seven rebounds. Carr notched 17 points and Heinz added 10 points and four rebounds. Despite not scoring, Kaylee Kirk (Balaton, Minn.) dished out 10 assists to lead the Tigers.
DWU takes on Presentation College at 4 p.m. tomorrow at the Sanford Pentagon.