Hot start and balanced scoring helps DWU knock off Concordia

MITCHELL, S.D. – Racing out to 27 first quarter points, the Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team knocked off Concordia University 85-80 on Wednesday in Great Plains Athletic Conference play from the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D.

 Matti Reiner (Tripp, S.D.) recorded six points in the early going as both teams started fast. A converted jumper by Reiner off the assist from Haidyn Pitsch (Prior Lake, Minn.) forced Concordia to burn a timeout midway through the opening stanza trailing 10-8.

 Out of the break, Dakota Wesleyan rolled to a 15-4 run thanks to a barrage of 3-pointers, including makes from Pitsch and Isabel Ihnen (Lennox, S.D.). Though the Bulldogs (10-6, 9-4 GPAC) stopped the run, however, DWU controlled a 27-18 lead heading into the second frame.

 The Tigers (7-5, 5-5 GPAC) continued their fast start as a pair of baskets by Kaylee Kirk (Balaton, Minn.) held the DWU advantage at nine, 31-22 near the 8:33 mark.

 Another made 3-pointer by Pitsch, one-of-four makes from behind the arch, ignited a second Dakota Wesleyan run. The Tigers scored 10 unanswered points to force another CUNE timeout at the 4:57 mark. An offensive board by Natalie Gottlob (Salem, S.D.) and a block underneath by Sydnaya Dunn (Sioux Falls, S.D.) continued the run and DWU held a 42-22 advantage.

 Though, the Bulldogs cut the Tiger lead late in the quarter 43-35. However, Pitsch scored five straight heading into halftime propelling the Blue and Gray to a 48-37 lead at the intermission.

Jada Campbell (Alexandria, S.D.) converted a layup down low off an assist from Reiner to give DWU a nine-point lead, 52-43 early in the third quarter. Concordia responded on an 8-1 run forcing Dakota Wesleyan to burn a timeout of its own as the Tigers held a 53-51 lead midway through the period.

Dakota Wesleyan finished with a four-point advantage at the end of the third quarter as both teams exchanged scoring efforts. A pair of 3-pointers by Ihnen, including a triple off the assist from Pitsch with under a minute to play in the period, brought the score to 65-61.

Reiner converted a pair of free throws followed by an offensive put back by Campbell to push the DWU lead to six, 71-65 midway through the final quarter. The Bulldogs pulled to within three multiple times down the stretch, however, the Tigers held strong thanks to stout rebounding and solid free-throw shooting.

 Finishing 15 for 21 from the line, DWU converted five of its final six attempts from the charity strike to claim the 85-80 upset victory over Concordia.

 Balanced scoring led four Tigers to double figures including a career-high 25 points from Pitsch. Reiner chipped in 17 points and eight rebounds while Kirk tallied a season-high 13 points along with seven rebounds and four assists. Ihnen also reached double figures with a career-high 14 points on four made 3-pointers as Dakota Wesleyan shot 52.2% from the field.

 DWU hits the road once again to face Midland University at 2 p.m. on Saturday in Fremont, Neb.