Tigers fall short in GPAC title game

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team came out of the gates firing on all cylinders on offense in the Great Plains Athletic Conference tournament championship game, but Morningside College took over in the second half Tuesday in Sioux City, Iowa.

The No. 10 Tigers hit four 3-pointers in the opening minutes, taking an early 16-10 lead over the top-ranked Mustangs. Morningside hit 11 shots from deep and pulled away in the second half for the 80-59 win. The Mustangs won the GPAC regular season title and tournament crown to earn the league's first automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament.

DWU picks up the second automatic bid from the GPAC by way of making the conference tournament final. The Tigers enter the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball Tournament with a record of 25-8 and will learn who they will play in the opening round during the selection show at 5 p.m. Wednesday streaming at www.naianetwork.com. The Tigers are hosting a viewing party for the selection show at the Moose Lodge in Mitchell at 4:30 p.m.

The Tigers hit six of their first seven shots from the field to build a lead early on Morningside, which lost starting forward Jessica Tietz early in the game due to an injury. From there, it was a Mustang show from behind the 3-point line, led by Madison Braun, who finished with six 3-pointers.

Morningside led by nine at the half, but DWU quickly cut the deficit to three with three quick mid-range jumpers to start the second half. The Mustangs built their lead back up with a 12-4 run to close the third and scored the first seven points of the fourth to put the game away.

Junior forward Erica Herrold (Dimock, S.D.) led the Tigers with 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting, including three 3-pointers. Sophomore forward Ashley Bray (Anoka, Minn.) was the only other Tiger in double figures finishing with 13 points.

The Tigers shot 21-of-49 from the field, 6-of-18 from deep and 11-of-14 from the line.

With Tietz on the sideline, Braun took over for Morningside. She finished with a game-high 24 points, while Lexi Ackerman and Lauren Lehmkuhl each added 15 points. The Mustangs shot 31-of-67 from the field, 11-of-31 from behind the 3-point line and 7-of-9 on free throws. Morningside won the rebounding battle 34-32.

DWU will play in the NAIA tournament for the first time since 2003-04. The tournament starts March 9 in at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City.