FREMONT, Neb. – The Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team forced 22 turnovers and 11 steals as it handled (RV) Midland University 76-47 in Great Plains Athletic Conference play on Saturday from the Wikert Center in Fremont, Neb. Saturday's victory marked the fourth time this season Dakota Wesleyan has limited its opponent to under 50 points as DWU completed the season sweep over Midland.
A 3-pointer by Haidyn Pitsch (Prior Lake, Minn.) from the top of the key kickstarted Dakota Wesleyan offensively. Despite a basket on the next possession by the Warriors (11-6, 8-6 GPAC), DWU jumped out to an 11-4 spurt at the 5:38 mark in the first quarter. Back-to-back jumpers by Matti Reiner (Tripp, S.D.) and a layup underneath by Natalie Gottlob (Salem, S.D.) sparked the early advantage.
Both teams exchanged baskets for the remainder of the period as the Tigers (8-5, 6-5 GPAC) finished the quarter with a seven-point, 21-14 lead. Sydnaya Dunn (Sioux Falls, S.D.) collected a steal at the 2:04 mark and converted a layup on the offensive end to give DWU a 19-11 lead. On the next possession, Gottlob finished inside once again off an assist from Rynn Osthus (De Smet, S.D.).
The Tiger's momentum carried into the second stanza as DWU cruised to an 18-4 run lasting nearly seven minutes. A 3-point basket by Jada Campbell (Alexandria, S.D.), her first of the season, off the assist from Osthus gave Dakota Wesleyan a 28-15 advantage at the 7:50 mark. Moments later, a pass from Aspen Hansen (Dell Rapids, S.D.) led to another field goal by Reiner, who finished with a team-high 15 points on 7-of-13 shooting.
Dakota Wesleyan knocked down a 3-pointer at the 3:19 mark in the second, this time by Hansen, to extend the lead to 39-18. The Warriors closed the first half on a 7-4 run, though, the Blue and Gray held a 43-25 advantage at halftime. With under a minute left, Osthus notched another Tiger steal and a pair of baskets to close out the first half.
To start the third frame, Midland raced to a 10-5 run including five unanswered points. A transition layup by Osthus at the 6:51 mark, who finished in double figures with 10 points, off the assist from Reiner gave DWU a 45-30 lead.
Midland dwindled the Dakota Wesleyan margin to 13 points midway through the quarter, however, DWU quickly prolonged the lead to 20 points minutes later. A pair of layups by Kaylee Kirk (Balaton, Minn.) and Pitsch pushed the Tiger advantage to 55-35 at the 2:20 mark in the third. The Tigers controlled a 59-39 advantage entering the final quarter.
With the game in control, Dakota Wesleyan held Midland to its lowest scoring output in the final quarter, 17-8. Kirk opened the quarter with a jumper and another Tiger steal by Isabel Ihnen (Lennox, S.D.) led to a layup in transition by Reiner to provide DWU a 63-41 lead early in the fourth quarter.
A layup by Reiner and a pair of free throws by Abbigail Magnuson (Buxton, N.D.) denied any comeback by the Warriors and Dakota Wesleyan cruised to the 76-44 road victory.
Four Tigers finished in double figures including Gottlob who tallied a season-high 12 points along with five rebounds. Pitsch finished with 15 points while Kirk collected a team-high four steals. As a unit, Dakota Wesleyan snagged 45 rebounds and dished out 24 assists.
DWU remains on the road over the weekend and will take on College of Saint Mary at 2 p.m. tomorrow in Omaha, Neb.