DWU women overcome slow start, comeback to top Midland

FREMONT, Neb. – The Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team sits in a tie at the top of the Great Plains Athletic Conference standings after a furious second-half comeback to beat Midland University Saturday in Fremont, Neb.

The No. 12 Tigers used an 11-0 run in the third quarter spurred by junior Kristin Sabers (Mitchell, S.D.) and sophomore Ashley Bray (Anoka, Minn.) to erase a 43-32 Warrior lead. The Tigers took the advantage for good shortly thereafter and withstood a Midland push late to secure a 78-72 win on the road.

DWU is now 11-1 overall and 5-1 in the GPAC. With No. 3 Hastings College falling to No. 2 Morningside College Saturday, the Tigers are in a four-way tie for first in the conference six games into the season.

The Tigers did not start with their usual shooting prowess, finishing the first half just 34 percent from the field. DWU went 11-for-11 from the free-throw line before the break and trailed 38-32 heading into the locker room. The second half started slowly from the floor for the Tigers as well, as the Warriors built an 11-point lead.

Sabers and Bray were the catalysts for the DWU run, combining to score all of the 26 Tiger points in the third frame. Sabers scored half of her career-high 32 points in the third. She was 6-of-6 from the field and 3-of-3 from deep in the third, while Bray added 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting.

DWU built a 12-point lead with 2:34 to play, but Midland did not quit. The Warriors went on a 10-0 run aided by a pair of 3-point plays. The Tigers made their free throws in the final minute and held on for the win.

Sabers, the two-time defending GPAC Player of the Week, led the way with 32 points on 11-of-16 shooting, including six 3-pointers. Bray finished with 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting, while adding five rebounds. Sophomore Amber Bray (Anoka, Minn.) just missed a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds, while making all seven of her free-throw attempts.

The Tigers were 25-of-53 from the field and 8-of-20 from deep, while finishing with 11 assists and 10 turnovers. DWU won the rebounding battle 27-25.

Midland was led by Megan Kucks with 16 points and five assists, while Sammi Licari added 15 points and four rebounds. The Warriors were 27-of-57 from the field and 8-of-23 from behind the 3-point line.

The Tigers play next in an exhibition game against the University of South Dakota at 7 p.m. Thursday at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, S.D.