Seward, Neb. – After holding a 36-35 lead at halftime, the Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team fell 76-69 versus No. 25 Concordia University in Great Plains Athletic Conference play on Saturday from Friedrich Arena in Seward, Neb.
The score remained tied at 10-10 midway through the opening quarter as Jada Campbell (Alexandria, S.D.) scored six quick points for Dakota Wesleyan. She was assisted on two of her baskets by Matti Reiner (Tripp, S.D.) and Isabel Ihnen (Lennox, S.D.). Natalie Gottlob (Salem, S.D.) also finished near the rim and helped propel the DWU offense in the early going.
Both teams exchanged field goals for the rest of the period as DWU found itself with a two-point lead at the end of the first quarter, 21-19. A defensive rebound by Haylee Mork (Aberdeen, S.D.) led to a jumper by Rynn Osthus (De Smet, S.D.) on the offensive end of the floor. Minutes later, Kaylee Kirk (Balaton, Minn.) collected a steal along with back-to-back field goals as she guided the Tigers (13-8,11-8 GPAC) to the early advantage.
Despite a 5-1 run by Concordia to start the second frame, the Blue and Gray forced a CUNE timeout near the midway point in the quarter and the Tigers maintained a five-point lead. Haidyn Pitsch (Prior Lake, Minn.), who finished 4-of-11 from beyond the arch, drilled back-to-back 3-pointers and DWU held the 32-27 advantage. Gottlob ended the sequence with a jumper near the basket off an offensive rebound.
Though, the Bulldogs (16-7, 15-5 GPAC) responded out of the break and Concordia trimmed the Tiger advantage to one, 36-35 as the game reached halftime. A pair of field goals by Reiner and Pitsch down the stretch preserved Dakota Wesleyan's one-point lead.
Both teams came out flat to start the second half as a pair of free throws by Reiner tied the game momentarily at 40-40 at the 6:47 mark in the third quarter.
CUNE constructed a six-point lead midway through the third stanza, however, the Tigers trimmed the margin to 48-46 late in the quarter. Gottlob, who finished with 10 points and five rebounds, converted back-to-back free throws from the charity stripe. Campbell followed with a finish at the rim as Dakota Wesleyan faced a four-point deficit to start the fourth quarter.
To begin the final period, Concordia mounted a 12-4 run lasting over five minutes and the Bulldogs led by a game-high 12 points at 64-52. Five-straight points by Pitsch cut the lead to 64-57 with 3:53 remaining, however, the deficit proved to be too much for the Tigers. Dakota Wesleyan fell 76-69 as the Tigers were outscored 41-33 in the second half.
Pitsch finished with a team-high 20 points along with five rebounds while Reiner and Campbell added eights points each. Kirk, who shot 5-of-9 from the floor, tallied 14 points and a pair of steals. DWU collected 36 rebounds and dished out 10 assists.
Dakota Wesleyan is back in action versus Dordt University at 6 p.m. on Wednesday from the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D.