HILO, Hawaii – Shooting 48.2% from the floor, the Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball program knocked off NCAA Division II opponent University of Hawaii-Hilo,72-70 in overtime after leading for a majority of the contest on Tuesday from Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo, Hawaii.
HOW IT HAPPENED
A fast start guided Dakota Wesleyan out to a 14-7 lead with just under five minutes remaining in the first quarter. Kaylee Kirk, who sits with over 300 assists in her DWU career, propelled junior guard Rynn Osthus to a made 3-pointer. Isabel Ihnen responded with another early 3-pointer, which helped the Tigers (5-2) who shot 57.1% from beyond the arc out to the seven-point lead.
Hawaii-Hilo evened the score at 14-14 late in the opening period, however, six-straight points by the Blue and Gray granted Dakota Wesleyan a 20-14 lead after one frame. Consecutive jumpers by Matti Reiner along with a made basket inside by Lacey Sprakel off a pass from Osthus helped fuel the advantage. Reiner finished the day with a team-high 15 points as she converted 7-of-14 shots from the floor.
The Vulcans (2-1) knocked down a 3-pointer to start the second quarter and rattled off 5-of-7 points to trim the Tiger advantage to 22-19. Ihnen converted a pair of free throws followed by a 3-pointer from Reiner which halted the Hawaii-Hilo surge, and granted DWU a 27-21 lead midway through the second quarter.
Another pair of made 3-pointers by the Vulcans down the stretch kept the pressure on Dakota Wesleyan, yet it was DWU in control at halftime, 35-33.
Hawaii-Hilo claimed the momentum out of the break as UHH matched the score, 39-39, early in the third quarter following made free throws and another 3-point basket. UHH shot 43.8% from 3-point range knocking down seven 3-pointers in total. Natalie Gottlob broke the hot start by the Vulcans off a dish from Osthus and it was Hawaii-Hilo holding the lead, 47-45 after outscoring the Tigers 14-10 in the third frame.
Head coach David Kaneshiro and the Vulcans constructed a five-point advantage to commence the final 10 minutes of action. Senior point guard Kirk responded with two points from the free-throw line to bring the score to 52-51 with over six minutes remaining as DWU converted 14 made free throws on the afternoon.
Both teams exchanged the lead before Jada Campbell hammered home a jumper assisting Dakota Wesleyan in reclaiming the lead at 59-57 just outside of two minutes to play. Kirk followed with two of her 12 points as she finished off a pass from Reiner and the Tigers tried to claw out the win in regulation. Vulcan junior guard Mandi Kawaha, who finished with a team-high 19 points, had other plans draining a big 3-pointer to tie the score at 62-62 sending the game to overtime.
The five minutes of added time saw DWU tally consecutive baskets, including a monstrous 3-pointer from Ihnen as the Blue and Gray recorded four triples in the outing. Hawaii-Hilo made things interesting down the stretch though, a pair of free throws by Kirk with seven seconds remaining helped secure the 72-70 overtime.
Four Tigers ended the contest in double figures while DWU dished out 14 assists, led by Osthus and Reiner with four each. Dakota Wesleyan also outrebounded the Vulcans slightly, 44-40.
UP NEXT
Head coach Jason Christensen and the Tigers remain in the Aloha State for one more non-conference contest squaring off versus Chaminade University of Honolulu at 6:30 p.m. CT on Friday from Honolulu, Hawaii.