MITCHELL, S.D. – For the eighth time this season, the Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball program held its opponent to 50 points or less as Dakota Wesleyan secured a crucial 64-49 home victory over University of Jamestown on Wednesday evening from the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D. Junior forward Matti Reiner led all players with 20 points and 13 rebounds which guided head coach Jason Christensen and company to the double-digit win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The opening quarter proved to be a defensive affair while DWU created an early 8-3 lead over Jamestown. Reiner converted a pair of jump shots as the 5-foot-10 forward ended the night 9-of-17 from the floor while both Jada Campbell and Lacey Sprakel converted at the basket. The Tigers (19-6, 11-6 GPAC) shot 40.0% from the floor in the contest and forced a UJ timeout at the 6:29 mark of the frame.
Out of the break, Jamestown narrowed the deficit to three, 10-7, though defensive steals by Kaylee Kirk and Aspen Hansen helped push the Blue and Gray to a pair of free throws late in the stanza. DWU registered 10 steals in the contest while forcing 14 Jimmie (16-9, 9-8 GPAC) turnovers and held a 13-9 advantage after the first period.
Dakota Wesleyan rattled off seven-unanswered points to kickstart the second frame which coerced Jamestown to burn another timeout trailing by double digits, 20-9 at the 6:57 mark. A pair of layups by Campbell along with multiple defensive steals by the Tigers helped fuel the run as Campbell scored nine points and notched eight rebounds.
The DWU advantage hovered near double figures for the remainder of the quarter as Dakota Wesleyan won the second frame 20-14. Isabel Ihnen followed a defensive rebound with a made 3-pointer while Rynn Osthus dished out a late assist which helped the Tigers carry the momentum into halftime leading 33-23.
Unphased, UJ erupted for an 11-2 run to start the third quarter and trimmed the DWU sway to 35-34 three minutes into the half. Kirk, who tallied 10 points and five steals, answered with a jump shot, though the Jimmies took their first lead of the night, 40-39, at the 3:27 mark.
Jamestown ultimately won the stanza 20-12, yet the Tigers managed to control a 45-43 edge with one final period left to play. A steal and layup by Ihnen, and an ensuing offensive rebound by Campbell assisted DWU in stopping the UJ momentum.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Dakota Wesleyan early in the fourth frame extended the Tiger benefit to nine points with 8:12 remaining, and Jamestown was left with no response. Defensively, DWU limited the Jimmies to six points in period, and the Tigers sealed the 64-49 win.
Reiner and DWU outrebounded UJ 44-33 while Dakota Wesleyan tallied 16 assists in the outing. Three players finished with 4-or-more assists while the Tigers shot 17-of-21 (81%) from the foul line.
UP NEXT
Dakota Wesleyan takes the court next for a Sunday matinee as the Tigers welcome College of Saint Mary at 4 p.m. on Sunday from the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D.