MITCHELL, S.D. – Despite holding (RV) Northwestern College to 38.6% shooting from the field, the No. 13 Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team did not find its' offensive rhythm as they lost 63-58 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference matchup Wednesday in the Corn Palace.
After NWC opened an 11-6 lead early in the first quarter, Kynedi Cheeseman (Alexandria, S.D.) converted a layup to cut the Tiger deficit to three points with five minutes left to play in the first quarter.
The Tigers (20-9, 13-8 GPAC) took their first lead of the game with three minutes left to go in the first quarter thanks to a layup by Kaylee Kirk (Balaton, Minn.). Sarah Carr (Huron, S.D.) made a layup with two minutes to go to extend the Tiger lead to 14-11.
The Red Raiders (17-9, 12-9 GPAC) tied the game just two minutes into the second quarter, 19-19. After a back and forth few minutes, Jessica Mieras (Sioux Falls, S.D.) made a layup to tie the game with six minutes left to play in the half.
NWC scored five-straight points to extend its' lead to seven points before Carr notched a layup with four seconds left in the half. She cut the Tiger deficit to five points at halftime.
Carr opened the second half scoring for the Tigers, before the Red Raiders pushed their lead to eight points. DWU scored five-straight points to again cut its' deficit to three points, five minutes into the third frame.
Mieras tallied two free throws to tie the game at 41-41 with just under two minutes to play in the third quarter. Cheeseman scored a layup three minutes into the fourth quarter to give the Tigers a one-point lead, at 49-48.
With 30 seconds left to play in the game, Cheeseman converted on a 3-point shot to pull the Tigers within two points at 60-58.
However, DWU was forced to foul Northwestern to send them to the free-throw line. The Red Raiders knocked down their free throws to steal the game.
Cheeseman paced the Tigers as she notched 17 points and six rebounds, while Carr added 11 points, five rebounds and four assists. Mieras chipped in 10 points and four rebounds, as Makaela Karst (Plankinton, S.D.) finished with nine points and eight rebounds.
DWU shot 33.3% from the field and 14.3% from 3-point range, while holding the Red Raiders to just 38.6% from the field and forced 16 turnovers.
DWU heads to No. 4 Hastings College at 2 p.m. Saturday in Hastings, Neb.
