WOMEN’S BASKETBALL COMES UP SHORT IN SIOUX CITY, FALLS TO NO. 6 MUSTANGS TO OPEN GPAC PLAY

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Despite a 32-29 halftime lead and forcing 12 turnovers, the Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team stumbled, 73-63 versus conference foe No. 6 Morningside University on Saturday to open the 2021-22 Great Plains Athletic Conference slate in Sioux City, Iowa.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first quarter saw nationally ranked Morningside build a 6-2 lead midway through the first quarter before the Dakota Wesleyan offense caught its stride. Matti Reiner, who eclipsed 500-career points on the day, hit a jumper followed by a basket from Kaylee Kirk off an assist from Aspen Hansen. Kirk led DWU with 15 points as the score sat in favor of MOR 10-6 with four minutes remaining in the opening period.

Hansen, the Tiger (3-1, 0-1 GPAC) sophomore from Dell Rapids, S.D. knocked down a huge 3-pointer after securing 1-of-10 steals on the day for Dakota Wesleyan giving the Blue and Gray a 13-10 lead late in the first frame. Out of a Mustang (2-2, 1-0 GPAC) timeout, both teams exchanged made field goals, and the game sat deadlocked at 18-18 after the first period.

Fellow sophomore Isabel Ihnen kicked off the second quarter with a layup off a dish from Kirk, who recorded six assists in the game. Natalie Gottlob and Jada Campbell continued the Dakota Wesleyan offensive push, though, Morningside kept the deficit in reach, trailing 28-24 with under four minutes to play.

DWU led at halftime, 32-29 while holding the Mustangs to a season-low in first-half points.

Early field goals by Reiner and Campbell granted the Tigers a 36-32 lead early in the second half. However, Morningside constructed an 18-6 run lasting the entirety of the third frame. Senior Mustang Sierra Mitchell, who finished with 14 points, and MOR controlled a 50-42 advantage entering the final quarter of action.

Unphased, Kirk and the Tigers chipped away at the Morningside lead in the fourth quarter. Kirk drilled a 3-pointer followed by baskets from Ihnen and Lacey Sprakel. Thanks to an 11-4 DWU swing, Morningside was forced to burn a timeout clinging to a 54-53 lead with 6:44 remaining.

A layup by Rynn Osthus midway through the frame afforded Dakota Wesleyan its last lead of the afternoon, 55-54. The Mustangs, behind multiple 3-pointers, ultimately secured the 73-63 victory closing out the conference-opening win.

Shooting 39.7% from the field, three different Tigers reached double figures including Ihnen and Reiner with 11 and 10, respectively. Dakota Wesleyan registered 40 rebounds and 20 assists on the day while Campbell paced DWU on the glass with eight boards along with six points.

UP NEXT

Kirk and the Tigers continue the early road stand versus University of Jamestown at 6 p.m. on Wednesday in Jamestown, N.D.