MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball program suffered its first home loss of the 2021-22 campaign narrowly, 52-49, at the hands of No. 23 Briar Cliff University in Great Plains Athletic Conference play on Wednesday night from the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Briar Cliff raced out to a swift 9-2 lead early in the opening quarter before a jump shot from Matti Reiner stunted the BCU momentum momentarily. The Chargers (9-6, 6-3 GPAC) pushed their lead to nine points, 17-8, before a Dakota Wesleyan basket near the rim by Jada Campbell off the assist from Reiner. Campbell tallied a game-high 16 points on 8-of-12 shooting along with six rebounds.
A layup by DWU freshman Lacey Sprakel capped off the first period as she capitalized on an offensive rebound. The Tigers (14-3, 6-3 GPAC) ended the night with 12 offensive rebounds, yet it was Briar Cliff who maintained the edge, 22-14, as the game reached the second period.
Both teams struggled to find the bottom of the net to begin the second frame despite a five-point swing midway through the period by the Blue and Gray. Campbell, the 6-foot-4 senior center, converted in the paint once again while Rynn Osthus knocked down a 3-pointer off a dish from fellow senior Kaylee Kirk, who leads the GPAC in both assists and steals per game.
Unphased, the nationally ranked Chargers extended the advantage to double-digits, 30-20, after a made jump shot with just over three minutes remaining until halftime. BCU shot 42.0% in the contest and controlled a 32-26 lead at the intermission in spite of a late triple from Isabel Ihnen.
Dakota Wesleyan knotted the score at 35-35 thanks to a 9-3 spurt to start the third quarter. Ihnen converted a second 3-pointer following a defensive steal by the Lennox, S.D., native. Ihnen finished with nine points and a pair of steals as the Tigers looked to take control of the game.
Both teams locked down defensively over the next four minutes of the stanza, and Briar Cliff burned a timeout with 3:28 remaining in the quarter. Out of the break, Rynn Osthus, 1-of-2 Tigers to score in double figures, registered a steal and layup in transition. The DWU sophomore registered 13 points in the contest, however, BCU still clung to a slight, 40-39 lead.
Multiple free throws from the Chargers pushed the lead out to five points, 44-39, to start the final quarter of play. Campbell registered another field goal along with a basket by Osthus midway through the fourth quarter to keep Dakota Wesleyan in reach. Hoping to not relinquish the late edge though, Briar Cliff still maintained a two-possession advantage. A late 3-pointer from Ihnen gave Dakota Wesleyan a chance late as the field goal brought DWU to within two points, 51-49, with just over a minute to play. Regardless, BCU persevered and held on for the narrow road victory, 52-49.
UP NEXT
Dakota Wesleyan returns to the court next in another monstrous GPAC showdown versus conference foe No. 22 Concordia University at 2 p.m. on Saturday from Friedrich Arena in Seward, Neb.