TIGERS HOLD OFF NO. 20 RED RAIDERS LATE PUSH FOR A 73-64 WIN

Orange City, Iowa – The Dakota Wesleyan women's basketball team grabbed a 73-64 win against another top-20 opponent in the No. 20 Northwestern Red Raiders. DWU didn't play their best game, turning the ball over an uncharacteristic 19 times in the game but got enough from Matti Reiner (17 points), Jada Campbell (16 points) and company when it mattered. Morgan Edelman did it all with her game-high eight rebounds, five assists and adding nine points. The Tigers shot 50.0% from the floor for a second straight game and racked up 14 assists to go with winning the rebounding battle 36-29. Dakota Wesleyan improves to 16-6 (10-6 GPAC) and also winning their sixth of their last seven games now. The Red Raiders drop to 15-7 (10-6 GPAC).

Stat Leaders:

Highlighted Player – Matti Reiner  17 points  7 rebounds  5 assists

Points –  Matti Reiner (17)

Assists – Morgan Edelman & Matti Reiner (5)

Rebounds – Morgan Edelman (8)

Blocks – Jada Campbell (2)

Steals –Four players (1)

Recap –

The Tigers came out with their gritty defense in the first quarter holding the Red Raiders to only seven total points. Northwestern shot 17.6% from the floor in the period and turned the ball over six times. Dakota Wesleyan were playing their brand of physical basketball on the defensive side but struggled to find their groove on the offensive side the whole quarter. As we have seen a couple times this season, the Tigers were missing open layups that they typically get to go. Dakota Wesleyan also were a little careless with the ball and passes turning the ball over at a much higher rate than they have all season. Thanks to the consistent defense the Tigers had a 14-7 lead heading to the second quarter. Campbell was the main source of offense with her six points in the quarter. Doing it both in the post with quick/physical moves as well as with her jump shot. Edelman followed with four points in the quarter and racking up two assists.

Second quarter the Red Raiders started to get some shots to go from deep. After going 0-4 in the first Northwestern shot 3-6 in the second quarter. Dakota Wesleyan was carried by Reiner on the offensive end scoring nine points in the quarter alone. Again, just like in the first DWU had multiple possessions of sloppy play on the offensive side and careless passes that found the Red Raider hands. Dakota Wesleyan had 12 turnovers in the first half, which is typical for them to force on the defensive side but very uncharacteristic for them on the offensive end of the floor. DWU crashed the offensive glass hard as they have all year with their nine offensive rebounds in the first half alone. This backs up the GPAC leading and top-25 offensive rebounding Tiger team. The 33-25 halftime score didn't represent how the game was being played out with the Tigers missing a handful of layups and turning the ball over not because of the NWC defense but because of sloppy play. At halftime Reiner led with her nine points followed by Campbell and Edelman with six apiece.

DWU won the third quarter 19-14. The Tigers got out to a big lead in the third quarter and were really looking like they were going to run away with the game, but when a lot of the starters went to the bench the Red Raiders took full advantage and closed the DWU gap. The Tigers again had a couple of possessions with unforced errors resulting in NWC points. Reiner kept the offensive momentum rolling from the second into the third with her leading six points. Mya Wilson provided big minutes pouring in five points during the quarter. DWU recorded four assists in the quarter and forced three turnovers.

The Red Raiders came out firing on all cylinders in the fourth quarter cutting the Tiger lead to four points with one minute left in the game. NWC went on the big run in the fourth quarter thanks to open look threes with the DWU defense slow on the contests and attacking down hill and earning trips to the free throw line and converting on those attempts. Dakota Wesleyan held off the run with good passing down the stretch and finding the best open shot with six different Tigers getting in on the scoring during the quarter. With 55 seconds left Rynn Osthus got a layup to go, putting DWU back up six points and the Tigers never looked back finishing off NWC 73-64. For the second straight game against a top-20 opponent DWU never trailed in this one. The Tigers shot 50% again from the floor and won the rebound battle 36-29 but was actually outrebounded on the offensive glass 15-14 which rarely happens against the Tiger squad. The Tigers were also very efficient again at the free throw line going 13-15.

Head-to-Head (Northwestern)

• DWU is now 25-40 all-time against NWC with tonight's win.
• Dakota Wesleyan last meeting with the Red Raiders saw the Tigers grab a 63-51 win against an at the time #16 ranked Northwestern team.    

Up Next

• Dakota Wesleyan women's basketball returns to the Corn Palace to take on (RV) Jamestown Wednesday, February 1^st with tipoff at 6:00 p.m. Tigers dropped the first matchup with Jamestown 71-64 in Jamestown, N.D.