MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball program, in the midst of a three-game homestand, breezed by Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) opponent College of Saint Mary, 63-46, on Sunday afternoon from the Corn Palace. Dakota Wesleyan used a 25-12 edge in the first quarter while junior forward Matti Reiner scored a game-high 17 points to help DWU to its third-straight victory and 20th win of the 2021-22 campaign.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Reiner and the Tiger offense (20-6, 12-6 GPAC) leaped out to a quick, double-digit lead, 12-2, at the 6:08 mark of the first quarter. Aspen Hansen knocked down a pair of free throws as the Blue and Gray finished 9-of-10 (90%) from the foul line in the game. Fellow Dakota Wesleyan sophomore Isabel Ihnen nailed a 3-pointer off a dish from Reiner as DWU managed the early momentum.
College of Saint Mary began to pick up the offensive slack down the stretch of the first period with multiple baskets near the rim. However, a defensive steal and layup by Rynn Osthus with under two minutes furthered the DWU control, 25-12, at the end of the stanza. Osthus, the junior guard from De Smet, S.D., paved the way with three steals as the Tigers notched 10 steals and forced 19 CSM turnovers in the outing.
Jada Campbell continued the hot start for DWU to begin the second quarter with a layup inside and Reiner ensued with a converted triple. The five-point swing forced a timeout by the Flames (11-13, 5-13 GPAC) with 6:19 remaining, and the Tigers managed a 30-12 edge midway through the stanza.
Kaylee Kirk registered a transition layup out of the timeout while CSM ended the first half with a defensive block and a basket near the rim with under a minute to play. Both teams closed the opening half, 8-8, in points and the Tigers led at the intermission, 38-20.
After another timeout by the Flames early in the third quarter, Natalie Gottlob responded with a pair of makes from the charity stripe, and Campbell converted off a pass from Kirk. Kirk, the senior point guard, registered a game-high six assists along with eight rebounds and seven points. Dakota Wesleyan, holding its largest lead of the afternoon, enjoyed a 49-25 lead at the 3:12 mark.
Undaunted by the Dakota Wesleyan advantage, CSM used an 8-3 spurt to close out the third frame, despite the Tigers winning the quarter 14-13 and leading 52-33 with 10 minutes to play.
Kirk kickstarted the fourth quarter with a made 3-pointer off an offensive rebound, and Hansen and Reiner followed with two more jump shots. College of Saint Mary ended the game on an 8-4 run, though Dakota Wesleyan held on for the convincing 63-46 home victory. With the win, head coach Jason Christensen and the Tigers push their home record to 8-2 on the season and collect their 20th win of the 2021-22 campaign.
Campbell tallied nine points and eight rebounds while Gottlob scored eight points on 3-of-4 shooting off the bench. DWU had four players with 4-or-more rebounds, and Dakota Wesleyan outrebound CSM 37-25. The Blue and Gray also dished out 18 assists and held the Flames to 19-of-49 (38.8%) shooting.
UP NEXT
Dakota Wesleyan takes the floor next in a monstrous GPAC battle versus No. 13 Northwestern at 6 p.m. on Wednesday from the Corn Palace.
