Sioux Falls, S.D. – Dakota Wesleyan women's basketball opened their 2022-23 season with a 65-52 win over Valley City State University. The Tigers used a well-balanced attack with six players scoring 7+ points in the contest. DWU was very efficient at the free throw line converting 19-24 (79.2%) attempts. The Tigers start the year 1-0 with the Vikings at 3-1.
Highlighted Player– Lacey Sprakel 15 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 0 turnovers
Stat Leaders:
Points – Lacey Sprakel (15)
Assists – Rynn Osthus (5)
Rebounds – Jada Campbell (10)
Steals/Blocks – Morgan Edelman (4)
Recap –
The Tigers had some first game hiccups with turnovers on three of their first five offensive possessions but quickly turned it around and started finding the bottom of the net with a pair of buckets from Rynn Osthus and Isabel Ihnen to give the Tigers an early 14-11 lead in the first. Freshman Maleighya Estes would score her first collegiate point to extend the DWU lead to 16-11. Dakota Wesleyan would close out the first quarter with a 20-13 lead.
The DWU offense would go cold in the second quarter registering their first field goal with 3:58 left in the quarter from Matti Reiner. The defense would keep the Vikings offense at bay only giving up seven points during that span resulting in a narrow 23-20 lead. DWU would get a basket from Lacey Sprakel and free throw from Reiner to increase their lead to 26-21 with 2:53 left in the quarter. After a VCSU three, Reiner would go to the line again and convert both attempts this time while Sprakel shortly after would add her second bucket of the quarter for a 30-27 Tiger lead at half.
DWU shot 12-31 from the field in the first half, 2-9 from 3-point range and 4-6 from the free throw line. The Tigers would collect nine assists in the first half and be slightly outrebounded by the Vikings 16-17. Osthus led the way with her seven points followed by Sprakel with six and Ihnen and Reiner with five a piece.
To open the third quarter the Tigers looked to Jada Campbell scoring the first two baskets extending the Tigers to a 34-29 lead. With DWU leading 38-34 the Tigers would go on a 7-0 run increasing their lead to 45-34 with 1:46 left in the third quarter. DWU would close out the last 5:00 of the quarter on a 13-2 run while not allowing a Viking field goal during that span. The score would sit 51-36 Tigers at the end of three.
The Vikings offense would wake up to start the fourth quarter opening with an 8-0 run. Sprakel would stop the run with her team leading 13th point of the game at the 6:32 mark in the fourth. Jada Campbell scored her 10th point of the game with 5:00 left to give her a double-double on the day to go with her 10 rebounds. Later in the quarter the Vikings would hit back-to-back threes to narrow the Tigers lead to 59-52 with 3:35 left in the game.
Morgan Edelman would push the lead to 11 with her 5th and 6th point (all from the free throw line). The Tigers would go on a 6-0 run to close out the game for a 65-52 final. Just like in the third quarter, DWU held VCSU scoreless in the final 3:23 of the quarter.
Sprakel led the Tigers with her 15 points on the night, also adding two rebounds and assists. Jada Campbell recorded a double-double with her 12 point and 10 rebound performance. Osthus scored nine points in the game and a game-high five assists. Edelman was active on the defensive end of the court with her three steals and block. The Tigers finished shooting 22-60 (36.7%) from the field, 2-11 (18.2%) from deep and 19-24 (79.2%) from the line. DWU edged VCSU in the rebound category 38-35 and also in assists 16-9.
Head-to-Head (Valley City State University)
- DWU is 19-17 with tonight's win all-time against VCSU.
Up Next
- Dakota Wesleyan women's basketball will tip off against Presentation College tomorrow, November 6th at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. at 4:00 p.m.