Women’s basketball overwhelmed by Defenders

MITCHELL, S.D. – Despite a narrow lead at halftime, the Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team suffered a 60-44 loss to conference foe Dordt University in Great Plains Athletic Conference play on Wednesday from the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D.

 In spite of a five-point deficit early in the first quarter, Dakota Wesleyan found its groove offensively. An offensive rebound by Kaylee Kirk (Balaton, Minn.) led to a layup at the rim by Matti Reiner (Tripp, S.D.) and cut the Dordt lead to 7-4 at the 7:52 mark. The Defenders (14-10, 13-8 GPAC) responded with a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to push the lead to six points.

 DWU finished the first frame, however, on a 9-1 run and controlled a 13-11 lead. A steal and layup by Rynn Osthus (De Smet, S.D.), who finished with eight points and three rebounds, sparked the run initially. Later in the period, Jada Campbell (Alexandria, S.D.) followed her own miss with an offensive rebound and layup.

 Both teams labored to find a basket to open the second quarter and the Tiger (13-9, 11-9 GPAC) advantage sat at two midway through the period, 17-15. A jumper by Natalie Gottlob (Salem, S.D.), who finished the night with six points, off the assist from Isabel Ihnen (Lennox, S.D.) helped sustain the lead.

 After Dordt reclaimed the lead 19-18 late in the second frame, back-to-back layups by Reiner propelled Dakota Wesleyan to a three-point lead at halftime. The score held 23-20 as the game reached the intermission. 

 Both teams exchanged baskets to start the second half and DWU still carried a three-point lead midway through the third quarter. A layup by Osthus off the pass from Kirk, who tallied a team-high four assists, stretched the lead to 27-22. Moments later, Kirk converted a pair of free throws from the charity stripe and the Blue and Gray possessed a 30-27 advantage.

 Regardless of multiple lead changes, the score was knotted at 40-40 at the end of the third stanza. Reiner connected from beyond the arch following a steal on the defensive end. Campbell then closed out the scoring for the Tigers in the third with a pair of free throws as DWU finished the game 7-of-9 from the free-throw line.

 Dordt raced out to a 15-0 run to start the fourth quarter and Dakota Wesleyan faced a 55-40 deficit with 4:32 remaining. A jumper by Haidyn Pitsch (Prior Lake, Minn.) and two free throws by Gottlob attempted to fuel a comeback for the Tigers, however, the margin proved to be too much as DWU fell 60-44. 

 Reiner scored a team-high 11 points along with eight rebounds. Campbell, who collected eight points, led the Tigers with 13 rebounds. Dakota Wesleyan dished out seven assists and secured 37 rebounds.

 DWU returns to action next versus Mount Marty University at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 17 in Yankton, S.D.