Goshen powers past DWU to end magical Tiger season
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – In November, the Dakota Wesleyan University women’s basketball team was unranked, not respected and trying to figure out how to replace a projected starter before the first tip of the season.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – In November, the Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team was unranked, not respected and trying to figure out how to replace a projected starter before the first tip of the season. Fast forward to the 2016 NAIA Division II Women's Basketball Championship, where the Tigers reached the tournament quarterfinals, ranked No. 10 in the nation and holding a record of 27-8.
DWU looked to advance to the third final four in program history, but the Tigers ran into a hot Goshen College team in the elite eight round of play. The Tigers could not stop the Maple Leafs' offensive attack in the second half and DWU's season came to an end with an 89-71 loss at the hands of Goshen, which came into the tournament as a No. 5 seed and has defeated three higher seeded teams to reach the final four.
The Tigers had trouble finishing around the net due to the physicality of the Maple Leafs, but the DWU outside shooting kept the team in the game until late. The Tigers hit 11 shots from deep, but managed just 24 total field goals to 32 from Goshen.
Down five at the break, DWU rallied early in the second half to tie the game at 40, but an 11-2 run from Goshen opened up a deficit the Tigers could not overcome. The Tigers cut the Maple Leaf lead to six twice in the fourth quarter, but did not get any closer.
The Tigers finish the season 27-9, the third most wins in school history. DWU set new team records in 2015-16 for total points (2,727), free-throw percentage (76.2 percent), 3-point field goals made (290), 3-point field goals attempted (804) and total assists (640).
Against Goshen, DWU was led by junior forward Erica Herrold (Dimock, S.D.) with 23 points, three 3-pointers and nine rebounds. She was a perfect 8-of-8 from the free-throw line. Sophomore Ashley Bray (Anoka, Minn.) scored 19 points, including four 3-pointers, while junior forward Kristin Sabers (Mitchell, S.D.) came off the bench to provide 12 points.
With a jumper in the first half, Sabers scored her 1,000-career point, becoming the 22nd Tiger women's basketball player to reach the milestone, joining Herrold.
The Tigers shot 24-of-68 from the field, 11-of-26 from deep and 12-of-16 from the line.
The Maple Leafs were led by Jo'Mani Thomas with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Sophia Sears added 17 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Goshen shot 32-of-65 from the field, 7-of-16 from deep and 18-of-26 from the line, while outrebounding the Tigers 45-39.
