WINFIELD, Kan. – Thanks to a career-high 29 points from sophomore Kynedi Cheeseman (Alexandria, S.D.) and a double-double from twin sisters Ashley Bray (Anoka, Minn.) and Amber Bray (Anoka, Minn.), the No. 8 Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team cruised over No. 16 Friends University 100-70 at the Tara Patterson Memorial Classic on Saturday in Winfield, Kan.
Cheeseman went to work early for the Tigers, nailing a 3-pointer early in the first quarter to give the Tigers a 5-1 lead. DWU went on to hold Friends to just nine points in the first quarter, after Cheeseman sank another 3-pointer with under a minute to play in the first stanza.
Friends made a short run of their own in the second quarter, but it was quickly cut off when Ashley Bray sank a shot from beyond the arc, as she went on to score 21 points that included 12 rebounds and five assists. Aside from the strong offensive production, the Tiger defense was a force to reckon with in the first half. As the game neared the one-minute mark in the second quarter, a jumper from Ashley Bray and newcomer Jessica Mieras (Sioux Falls, S.D.) gave the Tigers a 14-point advantage heading into the locker room.
Coming out of the break, a double-digit lead was the norm for the Tigers. DWU led by as many as 20 points at one time, thanks to a jumper from floor general Rylie Osthus (De Smet, S.D.).
It was all DWU in the fourth quarter, as both the Tiger defense and offense proved to be too much for Friends. The Tigers held the visitors to 15 points in the fourth quarter, while scoring 25 of their own.
Aside from her new career-high, Cheeseman added 10 assists, while Amber Bray added 12 points and 11 rebounds. The Tigers saw five players tally double-digit scoring in the contest. Mieras finished 16 points in 18 minutes of work and Osthus contributed 10 points, seven assists and six rebounds.
The Tigers shot 67 percent from the field, 50 percent from beyond the arc and 65 percent at the charity stripe.
DWU (5-0) battles Dordt College in Great Plains Athletic Conference action at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Corn Palace in Mitchell.