HASTINGS, Neb. – If any of the teams around the Great Plains Athletic Conference did not believe that the Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team is for real this season, the doubters were silenced Saturday in Hastings, Neb.
The No. 12 Tigers returned from the holiday break and rolled up the No. 3 Broncos in the first half, building as much as a 21-point lead early in the third quarter. Hastings started to heat up in the second half from deep, and cut the Tiger lead to a little as eight, but DWU reestablished control and came away with a big 88-76 win.
The win pushes DWU to 13-1 overall and 7-1 in the GPAC, as the Tigers remain in a tie at the top of the conference with No. 2 Morningside College, the defending NAIA Division II National Champion.
Sophomore Ashley Bray (Anoka, Minn.) came off the bench in the first quarter to pour in nine points in the opening frame, helping DWU to a 45-26 lead at the break. Hastings hit four 3-pointers in the third quarter, scoring as many points in the period as it did in the first half, cutting the Tiger lead to 12 heading to the fourth. DWU kept pace with the Broncos in the fourth and hit free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.
DWU was led by junior forward Kristin Sabers (Mitchell, S.D.) with a game-high 29 points and seven rebounds. The Tiger sharpshooter put the team on her back in the second half, finishing with six made 3-pointers.
Junior forward Erica Herrold (Dimock, S.D.) joined the Bray twins, as the trio established a dominant presence in the paint. Herrold finished with 17 points, while Ashley and Amber Bray added 15 and 12, respectively.
The Tigers shot 25-of-42 from the field (59.5 percent), 11-of-19 from deep (57.9 percent) and 27-of-31 from the charity stripe. DWU won the rebounding battle 32-22.
The Broncos were led by Teeka Thompson with 19 points and four assists, while Abby Jackson added 15 points and six assists. The Broncos shot 25-of-59 from the field and 8-of-23 from behind the 3-point line.
The Tigers continue GPAC play against No. 22 Northwestern College at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Orange City, Iowa.