SEWARD, Neb. – It wasn't anything short of a championship game on Tuesday night inside the Walz Arena.
The No. 9 Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team fell just short to No. 2 Concordia University in the Great Plains Athletic Conference Tournament Championship 78-77 in overtime in Seward, Neb.
Down by one with the clock ticking under 30 seconds, junior Amber Bray (Anoka, Minn.) nailed a long jumper to put the Tigers (26-6) up 70-69. Seconds later the Bulldogs (31-2) hit one-of-two free throws to tie the game. With 11.5 seconds remaining the Tigers had one more chance to seal the victory in regulation. However, the ball did not find the bottom of the net as the buzzer sounded following a Bray jumper from the corner.
As overtime began, Concordia quickly scurried to a two-point lead. But, seconds later Rylie Osthus (De Smet, S.D.) sank a 3-pointer to put the Tigers ahead by one, 73-72. The Bulldogs didn't go down without a fight as they answered DWU point for point in the closing seconds. As the Tiger defense began to stiffen, senior Erica Herrold (Dimock, S.D.) put the Tigers in the driver's seat with 44 seconds remaining. Ten seconds later, a pair of free throws from Concordia gave them a one-point lead.
After a Tiger timeout, the Bulldogs missed two free throws, giving DWU a last-chance effort in front of a packed crowd. In the final seconds, Ashley Bray narrowly missed a 3-pointer, but freshman Sarah Carr (Huron, S.D.) grabbed the Bray missed shot and hurled a last-second prayer to the basket, but was unable to find the net as the ball rimmed out.
"I thought our kids responded and fed off the adversity," Head Coach Jason Christensen said. "We got down 11 and battled back tonight and that says a lot about our kids. At the end of regulation and overtime, we had two good looks to try and win it, so I'm not going to hang my head about that."
Osthus led all scorers with 21 points, she also added five assists. Amber Bray finished with a double-double, chipping in 17 points and a career-high 16 rebounds, while Ashley Bray added nine points and a career-high 15 boards. Herrold finished with 15 points and six rebounds, while Carr added 13 points off the bench. The Tigers shot 34 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free throw line.
The Tigers await their national tournament opponent today during a live selection show hosted by the NAIA. The tournament begins on March 8 at the Tyson Event Center in Sioux City, Iowa.
