Tigers upset in opening day of Cruzin’ Classic

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Despite a ferocious comeback attempt, pulling them within two points with 30 seconds to play, the No. 14 Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team was upset by Florida National University 60-56, Wednesday at the Cruzin' Classic in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

 FNU (7-10) got off to a hot start that saw them up 11-0 in the opening moments of the game. Senior Jessica Mieras (Sioux Falls, S.D.) scored the first basket for the Tigers (10-4) in the sixth minute of the first quarter.

 Freshman Kamryn Heinz (Ipswich, S.D.) made four free throws in the quarter to help DWU keep pace. Mieras made her second basket of the day as the first period came to a close as FNU held a 17-9 advantage.

 FNU built its' lead to 14 points, until Kynedi Cheeseman (Alexandria, S.D.) made a layup for the first basket of the second quarter.

 With a minute to play in the half, FNU made a layup to push its' lead to the largest of the game to that point, which was 17 points. However, a Heinz layup as the buzzer sounded cut the DWU deficit to 15 points at the break.

 Sarah Carr (Huron, S.D.) began her scoring run in the third quarter with a pair of layups to keep the Tigers in the game.

 Following a pair of FNU free throws with three minutes left in the third quarter, the Tigers went on a 7-0 to close the gap to 10 points, forcing a timeout. Despite a pair of Makaela Karst (Plankinton, S.D.) free throws that cut the deficit to single digits, FNU banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to take an 11-point lead into the final stanza.

 The Tigers began the fourth quarter on an 8-2 run to cut the FNU lead to five points. With 2:33 to play, Carr made two free throws to make it a two-point game.

 However, FNU scored five-straight points to extend its' lead once again. Despite a last second comeback that saw a Cheeseman 3-pointer go in the basket; the Tigers were upset in the first day of the Cruzin' Classic.

 Carr finished with 22 points, all scored in the second half, while Kaylee Kirk (Balaton, Minn.) added 14 rebounds and five steals. The Tigers shot 24.2% from the field and 87% from the free-throw line and forced 27 turnovers.

 The Tigers battle No. 10 St. Xavier University at 10:30 a.m. CST tomorrow in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.