MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team returns to the Corn Palace one final time this year versus Hastings College at 4 p.m. Tuesday in Mitchell, S.D.
Tuesday's matchup marks the first meeting between the Tigers and Broncos this season with both teams vying for momentum. Dakota Wesleyan enters after an upset victory over (RV) Midland University on Saturday while the Broncos have dropped two in a row.
A trio of Tigers are averaging double figures including freshman Haidyn Pitsch (Prior Lake, Minn.) who leads DWU in scoring at 14.3 points per outing. The 5-5 freshman has reach reached double figures in seven games thus far including a season-high 19 points versus Briar Cliff University.
Sophomore Matti Reiner (Tripp, S.D.) has also sparked Dakota Wesleyan offensively tallying 10.9 points per contest along with seven rebounds per game. Reiner leads DWU in double-doubles this season collecting at least 10 points and 10 rebounds versus both Midland and Dickinson State University. Meanwhile, junior Jada Campbell (Alexandria, S.D.) averages right at 10 points a game after posting 15 points and 15 rebounds in Saturday's upset victory over the Warriors.
As a team, Dakota Wesleyan ranks 20th nationally in total blocks with 34 and its 4.3 blocks per contest ranks 25th in the country.
Hastings is led offensively by Kaitlyn Schmit who averages 14.9 points per outing and boasts a season-high of 23 points against the College of Saint Mary. Schmit sits sixth in the conference in scoring per game and has amassed 21 assists and 15 steals. Fellow guard Ali Smith leads Hastings in both assists and steals collecting 1.8 steals and 2.7 assists per outing.
The Broncos possess a record of 3-6 overall and are 3-5 in GPAC play, losing four of its last five games. Hastings also garners victories over University of Jamestown and College of Saint Mary both taking place at the Lynn Farrell Arena in Hastings, Neb.
Tuesday's matchup is the 46th meeting all-time as the Blue and Gray trail 9-36 in the series. The Broncos won both meetings a season ago winning by an average of 26 points. Dakota Wesleyan most recently defeated Hastings 81-63 at the Corn Palace in November of 2018.
You can stream the game and view live stats of the contest here: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/dwu/