DWU women show grit in win over VCSU

MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team remained perfect in 2015-16 with a hard-fought win over (RV) Valley City State University on day two of the Farmers State Bank Blumenberg Classic Saturday at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D.

The Tigers got big shots and strong outside shooting, with four players finishing with double-digit scoring in a 79-74 win over the Vikings to move to 4-0 overall this season.

Early on it was sophomore Amber Bray (Anoka, Minn.) that got DWU going with six of the first 12 points for the Tigers. She closed the first quarter with a made 3-pointer to push DWU's lead to 26-18 after the first 10 minutes.

For the second time this season, sophomore Shanna Selby (Faith, S.D.) gave the Tigers a boost going into the half with a buzzer beater to put the Tigers up 42-37. Selby has seen extended playing time this season and has given Head Coach Jason Christensen some valuable minutes.

The Tigers and Vikings battled back and forth for most of the second half. DWU opened the third quarter on a 10-2 run to open up a 13-point lead, but VCSU answered right back with a 15-2 run to tie the game at 54 late in the period.

DWU again got a last second shot, with freshman Hope Menning (Corsica, S.D.) hitting a 3-pointer as time expired in the third to regain a slim 57-54 margin for the Tigers heading to the fourth.

In the fourth, it was another Tiger stepping up to close out the win, with junior Gabby Frykbo (Sodertalje, Sweden) scoring all seven of her points in the final frame. DWU held on and will enter the Great Plains Athletic Conference season with an undefeated record.

The Tigers got a team-high 17 points from junior Erica Herrold (Dimock, S.D.) on 6-of-13 shooting from the field, while picking up three steals. Bray finished with 16 points, while junior Kristin Sabers (Mitchell, S.D.) added 15 points, including three 3-pointers. Freshman Rylie Osthus (De Smet, S.D.) continued to show her maturity, handling the point guard duties for much of the contest, finishing with 11 points, four assists and two steals, while Frykbo added six assists.

DWU finished 28-of-63 from the field and 8-of-18 from deep, while dishing out 19 assists compared to 13 turnovers.

The Vikings had a pair of players lead their offense with Georgia Williams scoring a game-high 28 points, while Lexi Lennon added 20 points. VCSU was 29-of-55 from the field and 5-of-16 from behind the 3-point line.

The Tigers open the GPAC season with a tough matchup on the road at No. 7 Briar Cliff University at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Sioux City, Iowa.