#21 TIGERS DOMINATE BOARDS TO GRAB 64-53 WIN AGAINST ANTELOPE VALLEY

Lancaster, Calif. – Dakota Wesleyan women's basketball grabbed game one of two on their California trip by a score of 64-53. The Tigers dominated the boards 52-28 grabbing a staggering 21 offensive rebounds in the contest. Isabel Ihnen led with her 15 points with Reiner pouring in 11 with a season-high 13 rebounds to complete the double-double.  DWU improves to 9-3 with the Pioneers dropping to 8-6.

Highlighted Player– Matti Reiner  11 points  13 rebounds  2 assists

Stat Leaders:

Points –  Isabel Ihnen (15)

Assists – Aspen Hansen (3)

Rebounds – Matti Reiner (13)

Blocks – Lacey Sprakel (2)

Steals – Rylee Rosenquist (2)

Recap –

DWU jumped out to an early 13-5 lead resulting in a Pioneer timeout. Isabel Ihnen scored 7 of the Tigers 13 points. Good ball movement and finding the open shooter was the result in the big run to start the game. DWU also played clean basketball with only one turnover in the first seven minutes of the quarter. Ihnen poured in her second three of the game off a second chance rebound by Campbell. Rylee Rosenquist got a shot from deep to fall and Ihnen found the bottom of the net again to tally double figures for the quarter and give DWU a 19-9 lead at the end of one.

The first three minutes of the second quarter had the teams going bucket for bucket for a score of 22-13. The Tigers took full advantage of offensive rebounds and second chance points just like they have all year with crashing the boards. Pioneers closed the gap to 25-20 playing a very physical and fast brand of basketball. Tigers had some open looks but couldn't get anything to fall. Dakota Wesleyan pushed it to 27-20 again crashing the boards on the offensive side, adding to their second chance point totals for the game. The Tigers tightened up the defense in the closing five minutes, only allowing four points for a 30-22 halftime DWU lead.

Dakota Wesleyan carried over the aggressive play on the offensive boards pushing the lead to 34-22 with seven minutes left in the third. Pioneers continued to play 'aggressive' basketball committing foul after foul after foul on defense. Antelope Valley would be in more foul trouble if not for a loosely officiated game letting a lot of the bumping go. UAV closed the DWU lead to nine with six minutes left in the quarter. The lead was cut to six after a Pioneer three ball, but Ihnen answered with one of her own to push it back to nine. Pioneers closed the quarter on a 11-0 run to cut it to 44-42 at the end of the third quarter.

DWU continued to attack inside and draw fouls, drawing four Pioneer fouls in the first three minutes. The Tigers pushed their lead to 48-42 with 7:30 left. Dakota Wesleyan defense tightened allowing the first field goal at the 6:13 mark which came on a turnover and wide-open layup for UAV. Dakota Wesleyan every time down the floor was attacking downhill exposing the undisciplined Pioneer defense and sending the Tigers to the line and racking up the team fouls on UAV. DWU would hold a 60-53 lead with 1:10 left in the game. The Tigers would do most of their damage at the free throw line during the span. Rosenquist would come up with a clutch steal down the stretch to put the game out of reach for a 64-53 final.

Head-to-Head (Antelope Valley)

• DWU is now 1-0 all-time against UAV with today's win being the first meeting.

Up Next

• Dakota Wesleyan women's basketball next wrap up their two game California trip with a matchup against (RV) The Master's tomorrow 12/30/22. The Tigers return to GPAC play in the new year against No. 22 Briar Cliff January 4^th, 2023 with tipoff set for 6:00 p.m.