ABERDEEN, S.D.- Continuing non-conference action the Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball program notched the season sweep of in-state foe Presentation College,72-55, on Friday afternoon from the Strode Center in Aberdeen, S.D.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Dakota Wesleyan wasted little time taking control of the game and raced out to an eight-point, 13-5, lead late in the first quarter. Senior point guard Kaylee Kirk, who finished with 15 points and eight rebounds, knocked down consecutive jumpers while Jada Campbell converted following a defensive rebound by Aspen Hansen.
Kirk continued the Tiger (11-2) offensive momentum with a 3-point basket, which pushed the DWU advantage to double digits at 11, 16-5, late in the opening period. Meanwhile, sophomore guard Britney Lovre ended the frame with a layup after a pair of Presentation free throws, and Dakota Wesleyan maintained an 18-7 edge.
Matti Reiner, the 5-foot-10 junior, kicked off the second quarter with another Tiger triple as Dakota Wesleyan aimed to expand its lead and ended the day 4-of-9 from 3-point range. The DWU forward and company blew the game wide open over the entirety of the second frame as the Tripp, S.D., native finished with seven points, and the Tigers constructed a 21-point lead, 34-13, late in the quarter. Following, Natalie Gottlob and Lacey Sprakel tallied consecutive layups late in the first half while the Blue and Gray held PC to just nine points in the period.
The Tigers shot 50% from the floor in the first half while limiting the Saints (3-10) to 17.9% from the field helping DWU to a 38-16 advantage at the intermission.
Multiple baskets by Campbell, the 6-foot-4 senior center who paced all scorers with 16 points along with four rebounds, maintained the Dakota Wesleyan lead at a then game-high 24 points, 48-24. Rynn Osthus followed with an ensuing old-fashioned 3-point play down the stretch along with multiple free throws by Gottlob.
The Tigers knocked down 8-of-14 attempts from the charity stripe, and held a comfortable lead, 58-35, as the game reached the fourth quarter after a triple by Isabel Ihnen.
Presentation outscored Dakota Wesleyan 20-14 in the final stanza, however, head coach Jason Christensen and Dakota Wesleyan rattled off the opening eight points of the quarter thanks to a steal by Kirk along with a layup from Osthus, who tallied 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting. A late jump shot by Ihnen and a basket near the rim by Anna Campbell aided DWU to the convincing, 72-55, road victory as Dakota Wesleyan completed the season sweep of Presentation.
Dakota Wesleyan shot 48.4% on the afternoon including 44.4% from three-point range as three Tigers finished in double figures. DWU outrebounded the Saints narrowly, 37-36, while the Tigers forced 13 PC turnovers and registered seven steals as well.
UP NEXT
DWU returns to the court for two final non-conference matchups before the Christmas holiday starting with Dickinson State University at 3 p.m. tomorrow from Scott Gymnasium in Dickinson, N.D.