MADISON, S.D. – It was a night to remember for senior Amber Bray (Anoka, Minn.) Bray notched a career-high 41 points as the No. 9 Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team dismantled in-state rival Dakota State University 95-74 on Tuesday night in Madison, S.D.
Bray tied the school record for most 3-pointers in a game with eight, stamping her name with former DWU players like Amanda Hart and Kristin Sabers. The senior also had a career-high 13 made field goals and was one shot away from tying the school record for field goals in a game. She also tallied a career-high in blocks with two.
Amber Bray got the Tiger offense rolling after hitting a 3-pointer late in the first quarter to give DWU a 12-9 lead over the Trojans. She followed that with a jumper and another 3-pointer in a span of 30 seconds to give the Tigers a 19-15 lead heading into the second stanza.
The Tigers (12-2, 5-2 GPAC) built a 12-point lead late in the second half when Sarah Carr (Huron, S.D.) nailed a 3-pointer that was later followed by a Jessica Mieras (Sioux Falls, S.D.) long-range three-point shot. DWU ultimately took a 10-point heading into the locker room.
The Bray sisters went to work in the beginning of the second quarter. Ashley Bray (Anoka, Minn.) hit a jumper that was followed back a layup and a 3-pointer from Amber Bray. The Trojans came with three points, but the Tiger offense went right to work. Chesney Nagel (Springfield, S.D.) sank a 3-pointer and was backed by a jumper from Kynedi Cheeseman (Alexandria, S.D.) and another shot from beyond the arc by Amber Bray. DWU took a 68-55 lead into the fourth quarter after Madison Mathews (Draper, S.D.) hit a layup with 45 second remaining in the third quarter.
The Tigers tallied 27 points in the final stanza, led by a quick five points from Amber Bray and an additional five-point run by Carr. DWU took a 20-point lead late in the quarter and ran with it after a layup from Carr that propelled the Tigers to victory.
Carr finished with 17 points, and a career-high 12 boards, good for a double-double, while Nagel was just shy of a double-double with 11 points and nine assists. Cheeseman added eight points and Ashley Bray and Mieras finished with seven points, while Mieras chipped in eight boards.
The Tigers shot 41 percent from the field, 54 percent from beyond the arc and 79 percent from the charity stripe. DWU outrebounded the Trojans 44-31 and recorded 20 assists compared to 12 by DSU.
DWU heads west as they face off with Olivet Nazarene University at 4 p.m. (CT) on Dec. 29 in Phoenix, Ariz.