Women's basketball ready for showdown with (RV) Midland

MITCHELL, S.D. – Riding a two-game winning streak and winners of four-of-the-last-five games, the Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team hits the road once again versus (RV) Midland University at 2 p.m. tomorrow at the Wikert Event Center in Fremont, Neb.

The Game

  Dakota Wesleyan raced out to another fast start on Wednesday as they scored 27 first-quarter points while shooting 52.5% from the field over the duration of the game to knock off Concordia University, 85-80 from the Corn Palace.

 Sophomore Matti Reiner (Tripp, S.D.), one-of-four Tigers to reach double figures versus the Bulldogs, continues to spark the Tiger offense as she recorded 17 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Wednesday's performance marked the ninth time this season the sophomore forward has reached double figures as she is averaging 11.8 points per game this season.

 Meanwhile, freshman guards Haidyn Pitsch (Prior Lake, Minn.) and Isabel Ihnen (Lennox, S.D.) have also generated scoring for Dakota Wesleyan down the stretch. Pitsch, who leads the team in scoring, tallied a career-high 25 points versus CUNE as she has surpassed 20 points for a second-straight game and averages 15.5 points per contest. Ihnen also reached a career-high 14 points versus Concordia and shot 83.3% from the field including four 3-pointers.

 The leadership of Kaylee Kirk (Balaton, Minn.) has helped direct the DWU offense. The Balaton, Minn., native leads the conference in both assists and assists per game at 65 and 5.4 per game. Kirk also sits third in the GPAC in assist-to-turnover ratio with just 33 turnovers compared to 65 assists.

 As a team, the Tigers check in seventh nationally in blocks with 52 and 14^th nationally in assists with 208. Kirk ranks fifth nationally in assists and Jada Campbell (Alexandria, S.D.) sits 15^th in the nation in blocks at 19.

The Coaches

 Jason Christensen (Dakota Wesleyan University '98) is in his 11th season with the DWU women's basketball squad and is the winningest coach in program history. He has totaled six 20-win seasons during his tenure with DWU.

 Shawn Gilbert is in his eighth season as the Midland women's head basketball coach. He is off to his best start with the Warriors, as they are receiving votes in the latest NAIA rankings.

The Series

 The series has been controlled by DWU, holding a 33-5 record in games played between the schools. The Tigers swept the Warriors in their two matchups last season and defeated the Warriors 61-38 at home in the first meeting earlier this season.

Scouting the Midland Warriors

 Midland boasts a 10-5 record overall after defeating University of Jamestown, 75-74 on Thursday. The Warriors are led by their offense, as they rank fifth nationally in made 3-pointers with 128.

 Makenna Sullivan leads the charge for the Warriors as she checks in at fifth nationally in both rebounds and steals with 142 rebounds and 40 steals. She also ranks ninth in the country in assists with 55 and averages 11.9 points per contest.

 The game can be livestreamed online at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/midland/.