HASTINGS, Neb. – The Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team was carried by the strong shooting of Kristin Sabers early and the scoring of Amber Bray late to a win over Southwestern College (Kan.) on the first day of the Hastings College Thanksgiving Classic Friday in Hastings, Neb.
Sabers (Mitchell, S.D.) scored 12 points on 4-of-4 shooting in the first quarter to push the Tigers to a 25-17 lead, which DWU never relinquished in a 75-65 win over the Builders. Sabers finished with 19 points, including three 3-pointers. The win pushes DWU to 7-1 overall this season, as the Tigers remain unbeaten in nonconference play.
The Tigers were led on offense the rest of the way by Amber Bray (Anoka, Minn.), who scored a game-high 22 points on 6-of-9 shooting and made 10-of-12 free throws. Bray added 10 rebounds to finish with a double-double.
Sophomore Ashley Bray (Anoka, Minn.) pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds to go along with eight points, while junior forward Erica Herrold (Dimock, S.D.) added nine points.
The Tigers shot 24-of-60 from the field, 7-of-22 from deep and 20-of-26 from the free-throw line. DWU outrebounded SWC 45-28, while finishing with 17 assists and 17 turnovers.
The Builders got a team-high 19 points from Jana Reichenberger, while Kayla Lovell added 13 points. SWC (2-7) shot 27-of-58 from the field, 7-of-18 from deep and 4-of-10 from the line.
The Tigers continue play at the two day event against Oglala Lakota College at 1 p.m. Saturday in Hastings.