MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team has many of the same pieces as a year ago, but the big difference is the Tigers are winning the close ones and are making a statement in the first half of the Great Plains Athletic Conference schedule.
No. 16 DWU had another opportunity to make a move towards the top of the GPAC with a matchup against No. 9 Concordia. The Tigers trailed by eight heading to the fourth quarter, but stepped up in the final 10 minutes and overcame the Bulldogs for a 73-66 victory. The win moves DWU to 10-1 overall and 4-1 in the GPAC.
The Tigers and Bulldogs battled back and forth in the first half, with DWU leading by two at the break. Concordia outscored DWU 27-17 in the third quarter and looked poised to leave the Corn Palace with a win. DWU answered with a dominate quarter of its own and did it when it mattered most.
Down two, with 4:23 on the clock, the Tigers scored eight straight points, including two 3-pointers, to pull ahead for good. The Tigers won the fourth quarter 25-10 and captured the win over the No. 9 Bulldogs.
DWU was led by freshman point guard Rylie Osthus (De Smet, S.D.) with 17 points, including three 3-pointers, six rebounds and four assists. Fresh off her GPAC Player-of-the-Week honor, junior forward Kristin Sabers (Mitchell, S.D.) posted 16 points, including 13 in the first half. Sabers hit four 3-pointers one game after tying the team record for made 3-point field goals in a game with eight on Wednesday.
Sophomore Amber Bray (Anoka, Minn.) added 13 points and two blocks, while junior forward Erica Herrold (Dimock, S.D.) totaled 12 points, six rebounds and four assists. Sophomore Ashley Bray (Anoka, Minn.) chipped in with nine points and six rebounds.
The Tigers shot 21-of-43 from the field and 9-of-23 from deep, while making 22-of-34 free throws. DWU finished with 15 assists and 18 turnovers.
The Bulldogs had trouble shooting, going 23-of-69 from the field and 11-of-28 from behind the 3-point line. Concordia won the rebounding battle 33-29, while committing 10 turnovers to nine assists. The Bulldogs were led by Becky Mueller with 12 points, all on 3-pointers.
The Tigers step out of conference play for an exhibition against Northern State University at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Aberdeen, S.D.
