Pitsch, Tigers trounce Doane in road victory

Crete, Neb. – Scoring 21 second-chance points, the Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team cruised to an 80-42 victory over conference foe Doane University on Saturday at the Haddix Center in Crete, Neb.

 Both teams traded the lead early in the first quarter as a transition layup by Matti Reiner (Tripp, S.D.) and a jumper in the paint by Kaylee Kirk (Balaton, Minn.) sparked the offense initially. With a three-point lead at the 3:05 mark, a six-point swing fueled by Haidyn Pitsch (Prior Lake, Minn.) propelled the Tigers (6-5, 4-5 GPAC) to a 13-5 run. A layup near the basket by Rynn Osthus (De Smet, S.D.) capped off the opening period as Dakota Wesleyan held a 24-15 lead.

 DWU exploded in the second quarter outscoring the Tigers (4-10, 2-9 GPAC) of Doane 28-4. After a series of layups by Jada Campbell (Alexandria, S.D.), a 3-point basket by Isabel Ihnen (Lennox, S.D.) off the assist from Kirk extended the Dakota Wesleyan advantage to 35-17 midway through the quarter.

 Later in the second frame, a finish at the rim by Sydnaya Dunn (Sioux Falls, S.D.) off an assist from Natalie Gottlob (Salem, S.D.) stretched the Tiger lead to 22 points with under four minutes left in the half. A steal and 3-pointer by Aspen Hansen (Dell Rapids, S.D.), one-of-seven 3-pointers made by DWU in the game, pushed the Dakota Wesleyan advantage to 52-19 at halftime.

 Campbell scored six-straight points for the Blue and Gray to open the third frame. Midway through the quarter, a fast-break layup by Gottlob of another assist by Kirk extended the DWU vantage to 62-24. Later in the period, a layup by Reiner off the pass from Osthus guided the Tigers to a 69-30 lead entering the final period.

 In the final stanza with game well in hand, Pitsch knocked down a pair of free throws followed by a finish in the lane. At the 4:34 mark a jumper in the lane by Abbigail Magnuson (Buxton, N.D.), one-of-ten Tigers to score in the contest, propelled Dakota Wesleyan to the 80-42 road victory.

Pacing DWU in scoring was Pitsch with a career-high 23 points along with four assists, five steals and two rebounds. Also finishing in double figures was Campbell and Osthus tallying 16 and 11 points. As a team Dakota Wesleyan held the advantage in rebounds 46-30 and collected 21 second-chance points completing the season sweep of Doane. 

 The Tigers return home for the first time in 2021 as they battle Concordia University at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D.