No. 12 Tigers stumble to No. 2 Broncos

MITCHELL, S.D. – After only trailing by four points at halftime, the No. 12 Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team was unable to keep No. 2 Hastings College in check as they dropped the Great Plains Athletic Conference game, 82-58 Wednesday night in the Corn Palace.

 After HC took an early 5-4 lead, the Tigers (14-7, 7-6 GPAC) opened an 8-5 advantage following a jump shot by Sarah Carr (Huron, S.D.) and a layup by Jessica Mieras (Sioux Falls, S.D.).

 The Broncos (21-0, 13-0 GPAC) responded with a 6-0 run to regain the lead. However, DWU answered with an 8-4 run to finish the quarter, that was capped off with a Makaela Karst (Plankinton, S.D.) layup and free throw.

 Both teams began the second period with a 3-pointer and a made jump shot, as DWU held onto a 21-20 lead. After a Kaylee Kirk (Balaton, Minn.) made layup, the Broncos nailed a 3-point basket to regain a two-point advantage.

 Neither team scored for the following two minutes, until Hastings made another layup. But Karst knocked down a pair of free throws to keep pace. Mieras converted on a layup to tie the game with 1:28 left in the first half. The Broncos scored the final four points of the half to hold a slim four-point margin at halftime.

 Hastings opened the second half on a 9-4 run to take a nine-point lead. However, Carr made a shot from beyond the arc to keep the Tigers within striking distance.

 The Broncos went on another run, this time outscoring DWU 13-7 in the final minutes of the third period, taking a 56-44 lead into the final 10 minutes of play.

 Carr made a layup and a 3-pointer to begin the fourth-quarter scoring for the Tigers. Midway through the final stanza, Kynedi Cheeseman (Alexandria, S.D.) knocked down a 3-point shot. But it was not enough as Hastings pulled away down the stretch. 

 Karst led the team in scoring with 17 points and tallied three assists, while Carr notched a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Mieras and Cheeseman finished with nine points apiece, as Kirk added six points, five rebounds and four assists.

 The Tigers shot 40.4% from the field and held the Broncos to 34.8% shooting from 3-point range. DWU also outrebounded HC, 36-25 and finished with 15 assists.

 DWU takes on College of Saint Mary for a GPAC battle at 2 p.m. Saturday in Omaha, Neb.