MITCHELL, S.D. – Defense was a strong factor that led No. 1 Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team over Doane College Wednesday as they rolled to a 66-45 victory in a Great Plains Athletic Conference match-up at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D.
The DWU (11-1, 5-1 GPAC) defense dismantled Doane's (7-6, 2-3 GPAC) offense throughout the entire game. The Tigers held Doane to just 21 percent shooting and only eight points in the second quarter. Erica Herrold (Dimock, S.D.) led the way with 10 points in the second quarter to give DWU a 37-29 lead heading into the locker room at half.
As if the defense could not get any better, DWU haulted the Doane offense in the third quarter, only allowing four points, while holding them to 13 percent from the floor. While the Tigers from Doane could not get anything going, the DWU Tigers shared the ball as each field goal had an assist during the third quarter. DWU shot 80 percent from beyond the arc, jumping to a 19-point lead heading into the final quarter. Christensen and Co. would grow their lead to as much as 27 points in the fourth quarter after a Herrold 3-pointer, and never looked back as they cruised to win in front of a packed Corn Palace crowd.
Herrold finished with 18 points and six rebounds. Sophomore Rylie Osthus (De Smet, S.D.) scored 12 points, adding seven rebounds and four assists. Ashley Bray (Anoka, Minn.) and Kynedi Cheeseman (Alexandria, S.D.) each tallied ten points.
The Tigers hit the road for their next GPAC battle at 2 p.m. Saturday against Hastings College in Hastings, Neb.