MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball is enjoying success not seen in over a decade, with the Tigers continuing their hot start against Doane College in a Great Plains Athletic Conference matchup Saturday at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D.
The No. 12 Tigers got strong performances by junior forwards Erica Herrold (Dimock, S.D.) and Kristin Sabers (Mitchell, S.D.), pulling away in the second half for an 81-67 win. The win moves DWU to 12-1 overall and 6-1 in the GPAC. The last time the Tigers started 12-1 was 2003-04.
DWU started the game cold, falling behind 14-7 early, but rallied to lead 20-19 after the first quarter. Herrold was unstoppable in the first half, scoring 18 of her 28 points before the break. In the second half, Sabers took over with 19 of her 25 points in the final 20 minutes, including 13 points in the fourth quarter.
Herrold finished 12-of-16 from the field, while adding five rebounds. Her 28 points marked a new career high. Sabers continued her strong play of late with a seventh straight game scoring at least 16 points.
Freshman point guard Rylie Osthus (De Smet, S.D.) continues to fill the stats sheet for the Tigers, finishing with eight points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals, while committing just one turnover in the win. The DWU rotation has included a new face of late, with freshman Kelsey Bertram (Winner, S.D.) making an impact with extended minutes. Bertram hit a pair of big 3-pointers and finished with eight points.
The Tigers shot 30-of-64 from the field and 6-of-21 from deep, while outrebounding Doane 29-25.
Doane was led by Heather Broman with 25 points and nine rebounds, while Hanah Barnard added 16 points. Doane shot 26-of-52 from the field and 7-of-18 from behind the 3-point line.
DWU will be off until after the break, with the team's next game against No. 3 Hastings College at 2 p.m. Jan. 2 in Hastings, Neb.
