Tigers set to face Bulldogs in GPAC quarterfinal action

MITCHELL, S.D. – After splitting a pair of games to end the regular season, the Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team will face off against No. 22 Concordia University in the opening round of the Great Plains Athletic Conference tournament at 7 p.m. on Wednesday from Friedrich Arena in Seward, Neb.

 Dakota Wesleyan completed its season sweep of Mount Marty University on Thursday with a 73-45 victory over the Lancers in Yankton, S.D., as DWU recorded 18 steals and dished out 16 assists. The Tigers then fell 75-69 versus University of Jamestown from the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D., despite having notched 34 rebounds and 13 assists.

 Kaylee Kirk (Balaton, Minn.) continues to propel the Dakota Wesleyan offense as she averages five assists per game and is currently ranked fourth nationally in assists with 120. The 5-foot-5 guard has dished out six or more assists in nine games this season including a season-high 10 assists versus College of Saint Mary. Defensively, Kirk has also sparked the Tigers and is ranked 11th in the country in steals with 65.

 Matti Reiner (Tripp, S.D.), who matched a career-high 21 points in the loss to the Jimmies, has paced Dakota Wesleyan on both ends of the court. Reiner is second on the team in both points scored and rebounds at 13.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per contest. The 5-foot-10 sophomore has finished with a pair of double-doubles this season versus Dickinson State University and Midland University.

 On the glass, junior Jada Campbell (Alexandria, S.D.) leads the Tigers in rebounds and collected a season-high 18 rebounds earlier this year versus Morningside College. The 6-foot-4 center has averaged 8.2 rebounds per contest and ranks third on the conference leaderboards with 197 rebounds. Campbell also ranks 15th nationally in blocks with 42 and has tallied at least four blocks in four games this season.

 As a team, the Tigers sit 11th and 13th in blocks and assists with 98 and 387 and is second in the GPAC in scoring defense. Dakota Wesleyan limits its opponents to 61.5 points per game and has held five teams to under 50 points this season.

The Coaches

 Jason Christensen (Dakota Wesleyan University '98) is in his 11th season with the DWU women's basketball squad and led the Tigers to back-to-back NAIA National Tournament semifinal appearances in 2018 and 2019.

 Drew Olson is in the midst of his 15th season as head coach at Concordia and finished the 2019-20 season with 385 career wins. Olson earned his 300th-career victory versus Briar Cliff University during the 2017-18 season.

The Series

 Concordia University has controlled the all-time series holding a 36-14 record in games played between the schools. Both teams defended home court this season as the Tigers earned an 85-80 victory from the Corn Palace, though, CUNE responded with a 76-69 win in Seward, Neb.

Scouting the Concordia Bulldogs

 CUNE possesses an 18-7 record overall and is currently ranked 22nd in the country. The Bulldogs are led by their hot shooting as they rank fourth nationally in 3-point field goals made with 263. Concordia, who also sits eight nationally in 3-point field goals made per game, averages 10.5 3-pointers makes per outing.

 Taylor Cockerill leads the attack as the 5-foot-9 guard averages 14.5 points per contest and is shooting 41.3% from the field. Cockerill tallied a season-high 33 points versus both Dakota State University and Dakota Wesleyan earlier this season.

 The game will be live streamed online along with live stats at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/cun/. Fans can also tune in to Tim Smith on the call at kmit.com or on the radio at 105.9.