ORANGE CITY, Iowa – Down by 17 points, the No. 8 Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team strung together a run to cut the deficit to single digits in the fourth quarter, but were unable to complete the comeback as they fell to No. 14 Northwestern College 69-56 in Great Plains Athletic Conference play on Wednesday in Orange City, Iowa.
Amber Bray (Anoka, Minn.) began the game with eight-straight points to help DWU keep pace with NWC in the opening minutes of the game.
Despite the strong start by Bray, the Red Raiders (13-5, 8-2 GPAC) held a 22-17 lead after the first quarter.
Madison Mathews (Draper, S.D.) connected on a three-point play the old-fashioned way after getting fouled on her shot and making the free throw to pull the Tigers (15-4, 7-3 GPAC) within three points. However, Northwestern took a 45-30 lead at the break.
The Tigers were able to cut the deficit to 10 points in the third quarter thanks to a 3-pointer by Ashley Bray (Anoka, Minn.) at the buzzer.
Ashley Bray knocked in a layup in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter to make it a 56-48 game. Although, the Tigers could not keep the momentum going as they fell to 7-3 in conference play.
Ashley Bray led the team with 18 points, while Amber Bray finished with 11 points. Mathews added eight points and Riley Osthus (De Smet, S.D.) tallied seven points and four rebounds.
DWU shot 46 percent from the field and 47 percent from three-point range, while recording 22 rebounds and 16 assists.
The Tigers return home as they take on GPAC foe Midland University at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Corn Palace in Mitchell.