Pitsch named Freshman-of-the-Year, four Tigers headline All-GPAC Team

MITCHELL, S.D. – Four members of the Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team were selected to the All-GPAC team as Haidyn Pitsch (Prior Lake, Minn.) was named the GPAC Freshman-of-the-Year. Other players who received all-conference honors were Matti Reiner (Tripp, S.D) as she was tabbed to the All-GPAC Second Team while juniors Kaylee Kirk (Balaton, Minn.) and Jada Campbell (Alexandria, S.D.) received All-GPAC Honorable Mention honors.

 Pitsch, who led Dakota Wesleyan in scoring, averaged 14 points per game and surpassed 18 points in eight contests during her freshman campaign. She shot 39.6% from the field and recorded a season-high 25 points and five assists in a win versus Concordia University. The 5-foot-5 freshman guard also paced DWU in made 3-point field goals with 56 on the season including four-or-more made 3-pointers in five outings.

 On the conference leaderboards, Pitsch finished ninth in scoring per game and ended the season top-six in 3-point shooting. The Prior Lake, Minn., native ranked fifth in made 3-point field goals per game and sixth in total made 3-pointers.

 "Haidyn is the type of kid that is always playing with a chip on her shoulder," head coach Jason Christensen said of his freshman guard. "The sky is the limit for her and I'm excited to see where that mindset takes her."

 Meanwhile, Reiner averaged 13.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game for the Tigers as she was second in both scoring and rebounding for Dakota Wesleyan. The sophomore reached double figures in 21 games and notched a career-high 21 points versus both Mount Marty University and University of Jamestown. She shot 44.5% from the field on the season and accumulated 169 rebounds.

 The 5-foot-10 sophomore also recorded a trio of double-doubles including 11 points and 10 rebounds versus Dickinson State University. Reiner culminated her sophomore campaign ranked top-10 in the GPAC in total rebounding and finished eighth in rebounds per game and seventh in total rebounds.

 "Matti wanted to prove herself this season and I think she did just that," Christensen commented. "She had a standout sophomore season and she is paving her own path which is exciting to see."

 At point guard, Kirk ended her junior season ranked top-20 nationally in total assists, total steals and assists per game, including seventh in assists. She averaged 4.8 assists per game while compiling 121 assists and 67 steals leading DWU in both assists and steals. The Balaton, Minn., native recorded six or more assists in nine games this season and tallied a career-high seven steals versus Mount Marty.

 In her first season with the Blue and Gray, Campbell ranked 16th nationally in total blocks with 43 and cracked the top-25 in total rebounds with 209. The junior center led the Tigers in rebounds and blocks including a season-high 18 rebounds versus Morningside College. Campbell also led the DWU in double-doubles with five on the season and produced a season-high 24 points along with 14 rebounds versus the Lancers.

 "Those two helped us win a lot of games in ways that won't show up on the box score," Christensen said about his honorable mention duo. "Kaylee has been the straw that stirs the drink all season long, while Jada's size in the paint made a difference night in and night out."

 Dakota Wesleyan ended the 2020-21 season with 10 conference victories en route to a 14-12 overall record and 12-10 finish in the GPAC.