MITCHELL, S.D. – Behind a stellar defensive performance, the No. 5 Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team secured their 26th victory of the year with a 65-37 win over Doane University in a Great Plains Athletic Conference contest Saturday at the Corn Palace.
DWU (26-4, 18-4 GPAC) got off to a slow start offensively, not scoring their first basket until the 6:41 mark of the first quarter off a Kaylee Kirk (Balaton, Minn.) steal and layup to tie the score at two.
Both teams traded baskets down the stretch in the first quarter, but the Tigers got an easy layup from Makaela Karst (Plankinton, S.D.) with an assist from Rylie Osthus (De Smet, S.D.) right before the buzzer to make the score 13-9 in favor of DWU.
DWU opened the second quarter on a quick 6-0 run with 3-pointers from Sam Schuh (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) and Kynedi Cheeseman (Alexandria, S.D.) to extend the lead to 10 points.
Doane (6-23, 3-19 GPAC) would quickly answer back with a 3-point basket themselves. Moments later, DWU would close out the second quarter on an 8-0 run highlighted by consecutive scoring possessions from Karst to take a lead into halftime, 29-16.
DWU began to flex their muscles in third quarter, running away with a 14-0 run to begin the quarter and push the lead to 43-16. The Tigers would hold Doane to six points in the third quarter to take a 46-22 lead into the fourth period.
DWU would continue the offensive and defensive pressure in the fourth quarter, outscoring Doane 19-15 in the final stanza to take the regular season finale.
The Tigers were led by Cheeseman who poured in 25 points and grabbed five rebounds. Karst tallied 10 points, while Sydney Halling (Harrisburg, S.D.) chipped in eight points off the bench. Osthus finished the game with six points, six rebounds and three assists. Kirk scored five points and collected four assists and Schuh finished the game with five points.
DWU will open the GPAC tournament against No. 14 Morningside College at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Corn Palace.
