MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team wasted little time vaulting past conference foe Midland University, 95-50, in Great Plains Athletic Conference play on Wednesday night from the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D. Six players reached double figures while DWU shot a resounding 54.9% from the field on its way to its largest scoring output of the 2021-22 campaign.
HOW IT HAPPENED
DWU hit the ground running on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court, and the Tigers (15-4, 7-4 GPAC) controlled a 14-5 lead midway through the opening quarter. Steals by Rynn Osthus and Kaylee Kirk helped spur the quick start while a converted jump shot by the Balaton, Minn., native forced a timeout by Midland.
MID, who cut the lead to six points, 16-10, with just over two minutes remaining in the frame responded with a 3-point basket followed by a pair of free throws. Despite the Warrior's (7-11, 3-8 GPAC) surge, the Blue and Gray maintained a 22-14 lead as the game reached the second quarter. Natalie Gottlob finished down low off an offensive rebound, and Aspen Hansen finished off a pass from Osthus to conclude the opening 10 minutes of action.
The Tiger lead hovered around seven points before head coach Jason Christensen's unit embarked on an 8-0 run near the end of the second period and led 35-20 with just over three minutes remaining until the intermission. Isabel Ihnen knocked down a 3-pointer while Matti Reiner, who tallied 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting, drained a mid-range jumper.
The Warriors attempted to piece together a run late in the stanza to trim the DWU advantage, however, Dakota Wesleyan outscored Midland once again, 21-11, in the frame.
Dakota Wesleyan, who shot over 50% in the first half, controlled a double-digit, 43-25, lead at halftime.
Reiner opened the third quarter with a 3-point basket while Osthus, the junior point guard from De Smet, S.D., rattled off an old-fashioned 3-point play. Osthus scored 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting as she has now reached double figures in three-straight contests. Dakota Wesleyan led by a then game-high 28 points after a basket by freshman Lacey Sprakel, and the Tigers won the third period, 30-11, in convincing fashion.
Late field goals by Grace Fryda and Anna Campbell in the fourth quarter sealed the dominant, 95-50, victory by Dakota Wesleyan as DWU reached its highest scoring output of the season. The Tigers dominated the glass outrebounding the Warriors, 48-23, while sophomore guard Ihnen led the team with eight boards. Osthus chipped in six assists and three steals while Dakota Wesleyan forced 15 turnovers.
UP NEXT
DWU remains at home to finish off the week with a matchup versus conference foe and in-state rival Mount Marty University at 2 p.m. on Sunday from the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D. as the Tigers host Pink the Palace Day.