No. 7 Tigers fall in final seconds to No. 5 Dordt

SIOUX CENTER, IOWA – With six seconds to play, No. 5 Dordt University converted a free throw to lead by two points. The No. 7 Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team was unable to get a shot off before the buzzer sounded as they fell, 88-86 in a Great Plains Athletic Conference top-10 matchup Wednesday in Sioux Center, Iowa.

 The Tigers (3-1, 0-1 GPAC) started the game hot as they knocked down their first three 3-point shots to lead 9-2 early. Kynedi Cheeseman (Alexandria, S.D.) and Haylee Mork (Aberdeen, S.D.) nailed a pair of jump shots to extend the lead to double digits.

 Midway through the first quarter, Cheeseman knocked down another 3-point basket to hand DWU a 13-point lead. Both teams settled into the game as the Defenders (7-0, 1-0 GPAC) chipped away at the Tiger lead and made a 3-pointer of their own to end the quarter as DWU led, 30-27.

 Mork kicked off the second period with consecutive 3-point baskets to cushion the Tiger lead. However, Dordt took its' first lead of the contest midway through the second quarter following an Erika Feenstra field goal.

 Both teams traded baskets down the stretch of the first half as the Tigers led 44-43 with less than a minute to play. But Cheesman converted a basket to with 20 seconds left to give the Tigers a 46-43 lead at intermission.

 In the third quarter, the Tigers answered every basket from the Defenders, including a two-point basket midway through the quarter by Sarah Carr (Huron, S.D.) to keep a four-point advantage. On the next offensive possession, Cheeseman made another shot to extend the lead to six points.

 However, Dordt went on a quick 5-0 run to pull within a point. With 19 second left in the third quarter, Dordt took its' first lead of the second half with a basket. But Cheeseman answered with a 3-point basket as the Tigers held a 71-69 lead heading to the final quarter.

 Neither team led by more than four points in the fourth period, which was a Dordt lead of 83-79 with four minutes to play. Mork quickly cut into the deficit with a 3-pointer to make it a one-point game. Cheeseman gave DWU a one-point lead moments later, but the Defenders regained the lead with a 3-point shot with 2:38 to play.

 Carr tied the game with two minutes left with a layup in the lane. However, two Dordt free throws in the final 32 seconds sealed the game.

 Cheeseman recorded a double-double with 26 points on 12-of-19 shooting and 12 assists. Carr added 16 points and five rebounds, while Jessica Mieras (Sioux Falls, S.D.) and Mork tallied 11 points and four rebounds apiece. The Tigers shot 60 percent from the field and 47.6 percent from 3-point range.

 DWU takes on NCAA Division I opponent, South Dakota State University in an exhibition game at 8 p.m. tomorrow at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.