LA CROSSE, Wis. – A large first quarter scoring opportunity led the No. 3 Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team to victory over No. 21 Indiana University-Northwest 73-58 at the Viterbo University Classic on Friday in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Jumping out to a quick 9-0 lead was the type of offense Head Coach Jason Christensen has expected out of his team early in the season. With 2:03 left in the first quarter, Rylie Osthus (De Smet, S.D.) made a free-throw that gave the Tigers (5-0) a 12-point cushion as the Tigers missed just three shots in the first quarter.
Heading into the second quarter, IU-Northwest (5-1) cut the Tiger lead to one point, while eventually taking a three-point lead late in the quarter. DWU gained control of the lead 39-36 heading into the locker room.
The Tigers found their groove late in the third on a jump shot by Chesney Nagel (Springfield, S.D.) A Hope Menning 3-pointer sent the game into the fourth quarter, with the Tigers leading 61-46. Kristin Sabers (Mitchell, S.D.) was able to spark the Tiger bench to put the game out of reach for IU-Northwest as the senior tallied a game-high 22 points and six rebounds. Fellow senior Erica Herrold (Dimock, S.D.) added 14 points, while Osthus and Ashley Bray (Anoka, Minn.) pitched in seven.
DWU shot 46 percent from the field, 39 percent from beyond the arc and 40 percent from the charity stripe. The Tigers out-rebounded IU-Northwest 39-28.
DWU takes on No. 19 Cardinal Stritch University in the Viterbo University Classic at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in La Crosse.