MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team took control of the game against Nebraska Wesleyan University in the third quarter, cruising to a third straight Great Plains Athletic Conference win Saturday at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D.
The No. 16 Tigers led by just three at the half, but outscored NWU 24-8 in the third quarter to pull away for a 79-56 victory. The win pushes DWU to 19-6 overall and 12-6 in the GPAC. The Tigers now sit alone in second place after all three teams they came into the tied with lost.
Five Tigers finished in double-figures as DWU had balanced scoring throughout and dominated the paint. Sophomore forward Ashley Bray (Anoka, Minn.) led DWU with 15 points in the first half and scored the first six points of the second half to get DWU rolling. Bray finished with eight points in the third and 23 in the game.
DWU was able to pull away without the aid of the long ball, as the Tigers made just one shot from deep in the third. The inside presence of DWU in the third quarter led to 10-of-15 shooting and seven team assists.
Freshman guard Rylie Osthus (De Smet, S.D.) hit a pair of 3-pointers, finishing with 13 points, seven rebounds and two steals. One game after scoring her 1,000th-career point, junior forward Erica Herrold (Dimock, S.D.) scored 11 points and grabbed four boards. Junior forward Kristin Sabers (Mitchell, S.D.) added 11 points and a team-high seven assists off the bench, while sophomore Amber Bray (Anoka, Minn.) chipped in with 10 points and four rebounds.
DWU shot 30-of-63 from the field, 6-of-20 from deep and 13-of-15 from the line. The Tigers compiled 22 assists compared to 15 turnovers, while outrebounding NWU 34-22.
The Prairie Wolves did not have a player finished in double figures, as Alli Kalal scored a team-high nine points off the bench. NWU shot 21-of-54 from the field, 7-of-26 from 3-point range and 7-of-11 from the free-throw line.
DWU continues GPAC play against No. 2 Morningside College at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Sioux City, Iowa.
