Hastings, Neb. – Scoring the first eight points of the game, the Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team secured a 79-62 road victory versus conference foe Hastings College on Saturday from Lynn Farrell Arena in Hastings, Neb.
Dakota Wesleyan jumped out to an 8-0 lead at the 7:33 mark in the first quarter as Hastings burned a quick timeout. Kaylee Kirk (Balaton, Minn.) converted back-to-back layups and Jada Campbell (Alexandria, S.D.) finished near the basket following a block on the defensive end.
Out of the timeout, the Broncos (5-14, 4-13 GPAC) pulled to within four, 12-8 at the 2:46 mark in the period. Though, a steal by Kirk redirected the momentum as DWU finished the first frame on an 11-2 run. Multiple baskets by Matti Reiner (Tripp, S.D.), including her only 3-pointer of the afternoon, pushed the Dakota Wesleyan advantage to 23-11.
Both defenses locked down in the second quarter as the Tigers (13-6, 11-6 GPAC) held the Broncos to just one point and without a basket for over five minutes. Meanwhile, another steal by Kirk led to a layup on the offensive end by Haidyn Pitsch (Prior Lake, Minn.) and DWU controlled a 25-10 lead midway through the quarter.
The remainder of the quarter saw both teams exchange baskets as DWU narrowly outscored the Broncos 13-10 down the stretch for a 38-23 halftime lead. Reiner, who finished with 17 points and 7-of-10 from the field, knocked down a jump shot of the assist from Campbell. Later, Isabel Ihnen (Lennox, S.D.) rattled home a pair of free throws and the Tigers entered the locker room with a 15-point lead.
After an early timeout by the Tigers in the third quarter, Pitsch converted a basket after a pair of steals by Rynn Osthus (De Smet, S.D.) as DWU controlled a game-high 19-point lead, 44-25. Though, Hastings trimmed the lead down to 12 points, 57-45 late in third quarter after a timeout of its own. The score remained unbothered as both teams entered the final quarter of play.
A pair of baskets by the Broncos in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter trimmed the Tiger advantage to single digits at 57-49. However, a 3-pointer by Kirk off the assist from Osthus, pushed the DWU lead back to 13 points, 62-49 at the 8:38 mark. Moments, later Osthus scored on an offensive rebound by Natalie Gottlob (Salem, S.D.)
Despite another surge by Hastings midway through the final stanza, the Tigers finished the game on a 13-5 run and secured the 79-62 road victory. Reiner drained a pair of free throws from the charity stripe followed by a 3-pointer by Pitsch off the assist from Kirk and the Blue and Gray denied any chance at a comeback by the Broncos.
DWU finished the game 48.3% from the field and 6-of-12 from 3-point land. Kirk paced the way with a career-high 20 points along with six rebounds and five assists. Pitsch added 19 points on 8-of-18 shooting and three assists while Campbell secured a double-double performance with a team-high 11 rebounds and 10 points.
The Tigers return home for a pivotal matchup versus conference leader and No. 9 Morningside College at 6 p.m. on Wednesday from the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D.