MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team took to the Corn Palace floor for the first time in 2015-16, putting on a show in a win over No. 9 Tabor College on day one of the Farmers State Bank Blumenberg Classic Friday in Mitchell, S.D.
The Tigers used strong outside shooting and shutdown defense to run away from the Blue Jays in an 83-48 win to move to 3-0 overall this season and drop Tabor to 1-4.
DWU was hot from the start from behind the 3-point line with true freshman Hope Menning (Corsica, S.D.) looking reminiscent of her older brother, former DWU All-American Kris Menning. She hit six 3-pointers and scored a career-high 20 points to lead the Tigers to the win.
Menning came off the bench and helped DWU to a 38-33 lead at the half, but it was the Tiger defense that did the job in the second half, limiting the Blue Jays to just 15 points after the break and four in the fourth quarter. DWU shot 51.7 percent from the field and 45 percent from behind the 3-point line, while Tabor was just 31.1 percent from the field and 3-of-15 from deep.
The Tigers came out of the locker room after half time and pulled away from Tabor with 16-to-4 run to close the third quarter. DWU out rebounded Tabor 34-29, while finishing with 23 assists to just seven from the Blue Jays.
Junior forward Erica Herrold (Dimock, S.D.) scored 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting, while adding four rebounds and three assists. Junior Kristin Sabers added 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while sophomore Ashley Bray finished with 11 points and four rebounds. Junior Gabby Frykbo (Sodertalje, Sweden) chipped in with a team-high five assists.
The Tigers have a quick turnaround against Valley City State University at 4 p.m. Saturday on day two of the Farmers State Bank Blumenberg Classic. The Vikings, who are receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches Poll, fell to Hastings College in the first game of the Classic on Friday.
