DAKOTA WESLEYAN FALLS SHORT IN OVERTIME AGAINST UNIVERSITY OF JAMESTOWN

Jamestown, N.D. –  In another highly competitive Great Plains Athletic Conference matchup, the Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team came up short, 78-75, in overtime versus conference opponent University of Jamestown on Wednesday from Harold Newman Arena in Jamestown, N.D. While Dakota Wesleyan shot 52.0% from the floor on the night, Jamestown edged DWU, 57-46, in the second half to secure the three-point victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first quarter saw both teams push the ball in transition which led to a 3-pointer by Isabel Ihnen off an assist from Kaylee Kirk and Dakota Wesleyan held an early 9-4 lead. UJ rattled off the next five to bring the score to 9-9, and controlled a 13-11 at the end of the first period. A late layup by Matti Reiner off a dish from Rynn Osthus kept the Tigers (3-2, 0-2 GPAC) in striking distance.

Osthus, the junior guard from De Smet, S.D. who finished with a career-high 17 points, converted in the paint off a pass from Ihnen helping the Blue and Gray to a 19-18 lead in the second period. Despite an ensuing 3-pointer by the Jimmies (4-2, 1-1 GPAC), Dakota Wesleyan ended the first half on a 10-0 run and controlled an eight-point advantage at the intermission. A big 3-pointer from Britney Lovre late in the half helped spark the offensive momentum as the Tiger sophomore finished 2-of-4 from beyond the arc and DWU led, 29-21 at the half. 

Senior center Jada Campbell continued the momentum to begin the third frame with a field goal to push the lead to double figures, 31-21. Campbell, the 6-foot-4 native of Alexandria, S.D. finished with a game-high and season-high in both points and rebounds with 25 and 13, respectively. Behind the double-double performance, she surpasses 1,000 points and 800 rebounds in her collegiate career.

An ensuing steal and layup by Osthus followed by a jump shot by Kirk propelled the Blue and Gray to a 12-point, 38-26 lead three minutes into the frame. However, UJ slowly chipped away at the deficit and closed the quarter on a 22-11 run. An offensive tip-in by Lacey Sprakel helped weather the Jimmie momentum as Dakota Wesleyan managed a slight advantage, 49-48, heading into the final 10 minutes of action.

The Tigers tried to distance the lead using another made 3-pointer by Lovre in the fourth frame, yet, Jamestown continued to respond matching the score at 62-62 with just over two minutes left in regulation. Osthus answered with a humongous 3-pointer off the feed from Kirk, though the game sat tied, 67-67, at the conclusion of the fourth quarter.

Jamestown answered a layup from Campbell with an old-fashioned 3-point play to start the overtime period and never looked back as the Jimmies claimed the additional five minutes, 11-8, en route to the 78-75 home victory.

A trio of Tigers finished in double figures as Campbell registered her first double-double of the season. Kirk added 11 points and a team-high four steals while DWU forced 19 UJ turnovers. On the glass, Dakota Wesleyan collected 39 rebounds and tallied 18 assists in the game.

UP NEXT 

Kirk and the Tigers take the court next versus GPAC opponent College of Saint May at 4 p.m. on Sunday in Omaha, Neb.