Crete, Neb. – The Dakota Wesleyan women's basketball team grabbed the big 86-78 comeback victory of Doane University. The DWU Tigers were led by Rynn Osthus off the bench scoring a career-high 18 points in the contest. Jada Campbell and Rylee Rosenquist added 18 points as well. Campbell did it all in this one recording a career-high five assists, grabbing five boards and a season-high four blocks while also dominating the fourth quarter as usual with 10 points. Dakota Wesleyan yet again dialed up the defense by having another gave of forcing 20+ turnovers. DWU also moved the ball well again racking up 20 assists in the game. Dakota Wesleyan improves to 14-5 (8-5 GPAC) while Doane drops to 11-9 (5-9 GPAC).
Highlighted Player– Rynn Osthus 18 points (career-high) 3 assists 1 block & steal
Stat Leaders:
Points – Rynn Osthus, Jada Campbell & Rylee Rosenquist (18)
Assists – Jada Campbell (5) (career-high)
Rebounds – Morgan Edelman & Jada Campbell (5)
Blocks – Jada Campbell (4)
Steals –Isabel Ihnen & Rylee Rosenquist (3)
Recap –
The Tigers opened play a little slow and lackluster on defense allowing Doane two easy shots to go up 4-0 in the early stages. Christensen used a timeout early to get his squad back on track. The DWU Tigers responded with a Campbell jumper and Rosenquist layup to knot it up. Dakota Wesleyan took control of the quarter with the usual Christensen recipe of good ball movement finding the open shot and cutter and playing physical fast defense. DWU racked up eight assists in the quarter alone, finding holes and gaps in the Doane zone defense that many schools have been going to to try and slow down the DWU Tigers inside game. On the defensive side Dakota Wesleyan forced eight turnovers with Sprakel racking up three steals alone. DWU forced most of the turnovers by having active hands in passing lanes. DWU headed to the second quarter with a 21-18 lead. Rosenquist led with her six points in the quarter thanks to strong play around the rim and knocking down free throws.
Second quarter was all Doane from start to finish. DWU gave up 28 points in the quarter alone which is tied for the most points they have allowed in a quarter on the season (28 against Hastings 12/3/22). This came from highly efficient shooting from DOA (60.7%) from the field and going 6-10 from beyond the arc in the quarter. Doane opened the quarter on a 12-2 run to set the tone for the quarter. Dakota Wesleyan did respond and brought it close with some deep range shooting of their own from Reiner, Ihnen and Wilson. The GPAC leading DWU defense gave up too many good looks from behind the arc that Doane took full advantage of. Reiner poured in five points in the quarter to bring her total to seven points for the half while the true freshman in Rosenquist led the way in the first half scoring nine points while collecting three points in the second quarter on a strong drive and lay in at the rim and earning the and-one free throw. DWU Tigers headed to the locker room looking at a 46-37 deficit.
Dakota Wesleyan responded to open the third quarter cutting the Doane lead to 48-44 three minutes into the quarter. DWU assisted on all three of their made shots during the run. Campbell led with her four points, both coming off jumpers. Doane was forced to take a timeout to slow down the DWU attack. The DWU Tigers made it a two-point game after a three from Osthus, assisted by Edelman to make it a perfect 4-4 on made baskets to assists in the quarter. Both squads would go bucket-for-bucket in the next five minutes of play leaving the score at 57-56 Doane lead with 1:50 left in the third. The DWU Tigers finished the quarter strong heading to the fourth with a 60-58 lead. Dakota Wesleyan got big minutes from Osthus off the bench scoring eight points in the quarter alone, highlighted by knocking down two big shots from deep.
DWU was looking to put Doane down and out by opening the fourth quarter firing on all cylinders on both ends of the court, opening the quarter on a 14-4 run in the first 4:30 to grab their biggest lead of the game (12) 74-62. Dakota Wesleyan kept their foot down on the pedal for the next couple minutes trading basket for basket, but capitalizing on Doane mistakes and limiting their own down the stretch. Three minutes left to play DWU got a little careless on defense and handling the Doane press to slightly open the door for Doane with them cutting the lead to 78-70 with 2:14 left. That play continued in the closing minutes with Doane making it a four-point game with 10 seconds left. Osthus would knock down two clutch free throws to ice the game and give her a career-high 18 points in the contest off the bench. DWU would escape out of Crete, Neb. with a 86-78 win.
Head-to-Head (Doane)
- DWU is now 30-12 all-time against DOA with today's win.
- Dakota Wesleyan swept the season series for the 'Battle of the Tigers', winning the first matchup in a 75-69 overtime thriller.
Up Next
- Dakota Wesleyan women's basketball returns to the Corn Palace to take on top-25 Dordt University. The game is set for Wednesday, January 25th at 6:00 p.m.