HONOLULU – The No. 8 Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team headed off the mainland for a two-game stretch where they topped No. 17 Indiana Institute of Technology, 58-57 Tuesday in their first game in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The Tigers (12-2, 5-2 GPAC) started the game fast as they jumped out to a quick 14-5 lead early in the first quarter. However, the Warriors (11-4, 6-2 WHAC) found their groove as they cut the lead at the quarter break to 16-11. DWU would continue their fast pace as they went on to take a 33-26 lead at the half. The Tigers shot 46 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range during the second quarter. Sophomore Rylie Osthus (De Smet, S.D.) led the Tigers at the break with 13 points, while Ashley Bray (Anoka, Minn.) added six points and eight rebounds.
The Warriors looked to take the lead for the first time in the game coming out of the locker room. They did just that as they took the 46-45 lead into the final quarter, thanks mainly to their 55 percent shooting from beyond the arc in the third quarter. In the later portion of the game, it was the Tiger defense that would get the final say in the game. They held the Warriors to just 26 percent from the field, 33 percent from 3-point range and 11 points in the fourth quarter. The DWU offense took control on the other side of the ball as they shot 43 percent from the field in the final quarter. Thanks to clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch, the Tigers went on to defeat the Warriors in the first meeting between both schools in women's basketball.
Osthus led the team with 15 points, while freshman Sarah Carr (Huron, S.D.) tallied 11 points and grabbed down four assists. Senior Erica Herrold (Dimock, S.D.) added 10 points. The Tigers led for over 31 minutes as their bench outscored the Warriors bench 19-6.
The Tigers finish the Surf N' Hoop Classic as they take on Grace College at 2:30 p.m. CT tomorrow in Honolulu, Hawaii.