CRETE, Neb. – The Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team broke out of its midseason shooting slump in a big way in the first half against Great Plains Athletic Conference foe Doane College Saturday in Crete, Neb.
No. 15 DWU built a 21-point lead in the third quarter, but had to hang on late as the home team put together a furious rally. Wesleyan did enough down the stretch and picked up a crucial 72-66 win to move to 17-6 overall and 10-6 in the GPAC.
Wesleyan sits in a tie for fourth place with No. 7 Concordia University with six conference games to play. No. 12 Briar Cliff University and No. 13 Hastings College each won Saturday to remain in a tie for second at 11-5 behind No. 2 Morningside College.
DWU shot 55 percent in the first half with six players scoring at least six points before the break. Wesleyan made six 3-pointers in the first half and sank three more to open the third quarter. DWU led 49-28 two minutes into the second half and continued to lead by 16 with under four minutes to play in the frame, but the momentum quickly shifted.
Doane went on a 16-0 run to tie the game at 57 early in the fourth, but DWU responded and made just enough plays down the stretch to thwart the home team's rally.
Four Tiger starters scored in double figures led by junior Erica Herrold (Dimock, S.D.) with a team-high 18 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including a pair of 3-pointers. Herrold added five boards for DWU, which was outrebounded 33-24.
Sophomore Ashley Bray (Anoka, Minn.) knocked down three 3-pointers, finishing with 15 points, while junior Gabby Frykbo (Sodertalje, Sweden) added three triples of her own to score 12 points. Freshman Rylie Osthus (De Smet, S.D.) was effective on both ends of the field with 10 points, five assists and five steals.
DWU shot 26-of-50 from the field, 9-of-26 from deep and 11-of-12 from the line.
Doane was led by Heather Broman with 22 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double, while Shelbi Bittinger added 14 points and six rebounds. Doane shot 29-of-63 from the field, 3-of-15 from behind the 3-point line and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line.
DWU returns home to continue GPAC play against Dordt College at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D.