SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Feeding off a vibrant and electric crowd, the (RV) Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team led from wire-to-wire en route to an 83-60 victory over No. 6 and top-seeded Morningside University in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) championship game on Tuesday evening from Allee Gymnasium in Sioux City, Iowa. Dakota Wesleyan finished 49.3% from the floor and outscored Morningside 29-18 in the third quarter to run away with the 23-point victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Dakota Wesleyan sprinted out to a commanding, double-digit lead in the opening quarter and possessed an 18-5 advantage at the 3:09 mark of the first quarter. The Tigers (26-7, 15-7 GPAC) were fueled early by a jump shot from Rynn Osthus and a made 3-pointer by Kaylee Kirk.
Morningside attempted to cut into the DWU deficit with over a minute to play in the stanza as the Mustangs (27-5, 20-2 GPAC) trimmed the lead to six points, 20-14. A late basket with under 30 seconds to play by Jada Campbell, who shot a staggering 16-of-18 from the floor and converted at the rim, helped Dakota Wesleyan to a 22-14 advantage after one quarter.
Head coach Jason Christensen's offense pushed the Tiger benefit back to double figures early in the second quarter, 30-18. Matti Reiner knocked down a jumper from the elbow while Kirk assisted Campbell down low. The DWU 8-4 run to start the frame forced a timeout by MU with 7:30 remaining.
Out of the break, the Dakota Wesleyan lead steadied at double figures for the remainder of the half as Morningside attempted to switch the momentum. Senior Mustang Sierra Mitchell, who dialed a team-high 16 points, converted a layup. Yet, it was the Blue and Gray who favored the 14-point lead, 40-26, at the intermission after winning the period by a score of 18-12. Campbell and Reiner paced the way with 12 and 10 points at the break, and the offensive unit converted 47.1% from the field in the first half.
To start the third quarter, DWU capitalized on another fast start and pounded the ball inside. Isabel Ihnen registered a make from beyond the arc while Campbell, the 6-foot-4 center, notched a string of layups including an old-fashioned 3-point play. Reiner followed with a layup off a pass from Ihnen, and the Dakota Wesleyan advantage reached a then game-high 18 points, 50-32, at the 6:50 mark of the period.
Riding the high of the Tiger crowd, DWU closed the third frame on a 19-12 run and led 69-44 with 10 minutes left to play. Campbell, who scored 17 points in the quarter and a career-high 33 points in the contest, continued the momentum as Morningside was left speechless and without a response.
In the fourth quarter, Kirk and Osthus registered baskets in the paint initially to start the stanza, and Dakota Wesleyan maintained a 30-point advantage momentarily, 79-49, with 5:36 left to play. DWU, who sensed the victory in sight, closed out the game for the 83-60 road win despite the Mustangs claiming the fourth period, 16-14. With the victory, Christensen and the Tigers secure the program's first GPAC tournament championship in school history.
Offensively, Dakota Wesleyan shot 49.3% in the outing while four DWU players eclipsed 10-or-more points on the night. Reiner and Kirk dialed 17 points each while Campbell notched the double-double with 33 points and 17 rebounds. Ihnen meanwhile chipped in 10 points, and the Tiger offense dished out 29 assists and outrebounded MU, 47-34, on the glass.
UP NEXT
Dakota Wesleyan awaits its continued postseason journey as the Tigers await a destination and matchup ahead of the 2022 NAIA National women's basketball national tournament. The NAIA national selection show is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday as the reveal will be livestreamed.
