THRIVING THROUGH COMPETITION: Deep conference talent aids Tigers in postseason success

MITCHELL, S.D. - Competing in a conference that boasted three No. 1 seeds at the NAIA DII Women's Basketball National Championship and saw eight teams ranked in the top 25 or received votes at some point throughout last season, the Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team knows it must give its best effort night in and night out to stay near the top of the Great Plains Athletic Conference and the NAIA.

 The DWU faithful have become accustomed to seeing the Tigers near the top of one of the premier conferences in the nation and in the entire NAIA.  Not only have the Tigers been to four straight GPAC Championship games, they are also coming off back-to-back trips to the Fab Four, including a national championship title in 2018.

 It would be one thing to have an easy haul to March and through the national tournament, but an easy schedule is anything but that in the GPAC.  DWU played 14 ranked or receiving votes conference opponents last season and came away victorious nine times.  Of the five losses, four came against teams ranked third or higher in the NAIA, while the fifth loss came on the road to the No. 21 team in the land.

 In the conference tournament, DWU faced then-No. 19 Morningside College in the opening round and won by 13 points.  In the semifinals, the Tigers traveled to then-No. 2 Northwestern College and defeated them by nine points.  The conference championship pitted DWU versus then-No. 1 Concordia University, where the Tigers lost.

 With the 2019-20 season starting in one day, the Tigers prepare for yet another grueling schedule. DWU plays 11 ranked opponents this year, including 10 games that are GPAC opponents.

 "In our conference, you have to win at home," head women's basketball coach Jason Christensen said.  "Last year, at some point, we had five teams rated in the top 15.  You have to protect your home court in the conference, because it is hard to win on the road."

 Winning at home is exactly what the Tigers have done.  Since the 2015-16 season, DWU has a home record of 50-6, including a 14-1 record at home last year and a 12-1 home record in 2016-17 and 2017-18.  While the athletes are the ones competing on the floor, Christensen credits the DWU fans for creating a once-in-a-lifetime atmosphere at the Corn Palace.

 "We have the best fans," Christensen said.  "I go around to different conferences and other stadiums in the GPAC, and while they are good atmospheres, they are nothing like what our fans provide.  Our crowd bleeds blue, and I can't thank them enough."

 It might be fair to say that playing 22 GPAC games in a season is the best way to prepare a team for a deep run in March.  This also might be the reason why three teams from the conference have made it to the national semifinals the past two years, and the previous two national champions have emerged from the GPAC. 

 "That kind of schedule gets you ready for postseason play, not only in the national tournament, but also in the conference tournament," Christensen said.  "Playing in the three GPAC tournament games are usually tougher than any three in a row you will play at the national tournament."

 A staple to Christensen's teams since taking over at DWU has been the Tigers' intense defense.  The defense isn't a full-court pressure, but it is a tight defense that rarely allows second-chance opportunities.  Last season, the Tigers were ranked third nationally with 30.6 defensive rebounds per game.  The defense also tallied 332 steals and 106 blocks, while only allowing 63 points and 6.9 made 3-pointers per contest.

 Carrying that defensive mindset, as well as the offensive firepower, will be seniors Kynedi Cheeseman, Sarah Carr and Makaela Karst.

 Cheeseman and Carr are returning All-Americans after averaging 19 points and 17.1 points per game, respectively.  Cheeseman was ranked third in the NAIA with 702 points scored, while finishing fourth nationally with an 88.3 free-throw percentage.  Carr finished just ahead of her counterpart as she was ranked second in the NAIA with an 89.6 free-throw percentage, while ranked eighth in total scoring with 633 points on the year.

 Karst recorded a breakout junior campaign, leading the team with 40 blocks on the season while finishing fourth on the team with 9.9 points per game.  She also finished fourth for the Tigers with 4.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists per contest.

 "The unique thing with our seniors is a couple of them played as freshmen right away," Christensen stated.  "With us having to play some freshmen this season, it allows for our seniors to lead by example because they were in their shoes a few years ago.  My seniors have all lived it.  The leadership that these seniors bring helps relax our younger players and accommodate them to the collegiate level quicker." 

 Outside of the talented senior leadership is a skilled youthful sophomore and freshman class that is ready to make an impact.  Kaylee Kirk looks to fill the point guard role in her second season after averaging 3.2 points per game as a freshman.  She saw action in all 37 games, while shooting 34.5 percent from the field and dishing 44 assists. 

 Behind the sophomore class is a group of talented freshmen who are eager to be tested right away this season.  Twin sisters Kelsey Valencia and Lexi Valencia enter their first season with DWU from Atwater, Calif.  Kelsey averaged 16.7 points, eight rebounds, 4.8 assists and 4.8 steals per game en route to an American Chevrolet Region Player of the Year award her senior year.  Lexi finished with 13.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 4.2 steals per game, finishing her career with more than 1,000 points.

 Local talent looking to make an impact in their first season include Rynn Osthus, Matti Reiner, Kamryn Heinz and Payton Morgan.

 Osthus is a familiar name to the DWU faithful after seeing her sister, Rylie, play for the Tigers over the past four seasons.  Osthus averaged 12.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, five assists and three steals per game in her senior year with De Smet.

 Reiner comes to DWU from Tripp-Delmont High School, where she completed her career with 1,362 points, 825 rebounds, 319 assists and 295 steals.

 Heinz brings size and experience to the lineup following a four-year career with Ipswich High School.  In her career, Heinz tallied 1,732 points, 884 rebounds, 359 assists, 193 steals and 151 made 3-pointers.  She was a four-time All-Conference First-Team member and a four-time player of the year honoree.  The 5-foot-9 forward was also a three-time All-State player and a two-time conference Co-MVP.

 Morgan is another familiar face after playing for the hometown Mitchell Kernels for the previous four seasons.  She averaged 11 points and five rebounds per contest in her senior year.

 With the expectations as high as ever after making it to four straight GPAC Tournament championship games and consecutive national semifinal appearances, the Tigers know that a run to March begins in November.

 "It's a grind to play in this conference week in and week out," Christensen commented.  "I always tell my kids, 'You have one shot at this.  You don't know what is going to happen the next day.  If this was your last day on Earth, how would you want to be remembered?'"