UPDATE: The No. 16-ranked Dakota Wesleyan University (DWU) women’s basketball team delivered a stunning performance, defeating Midland 93-45 earlier today at the Corn Palace in Mitchell. The Tigers (4-2, 2-1 GPAC) showcased their dominance with an explosive start and relentless defense.
From the opening tip, DWU made it clear they were on a mission. Within just three minutes, the Tigers surged ahead with a 12-2 run, powered by six consecutive points from Emma Yost. By the end of the first quarter, DWU had established a commanding 37-12 lead, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
“The kids listened to the game plan. We had two days to prepare for this,” said DWU head coach Jason Christensen. “We talked about going inside right away, and we knew they would start in a zone defense. Establishing that inside presence was huge for us.”
DWU continued to dominate, leading by as much as 33 points at halftime thanks to an impressive 57 points on over 60% shooting from the field. The Tigers utilized their strength in the paint, scoring a remarkable 32 points and capitalizing on Midland’s 13 turnovers for an additional 15 points.
Defensively, the Tigers stifled Midland’s top player, Jenna Weber, holding her to just 11 points on 3-of-10 shooting. “We focused on limiting her chances, and I thought we were in our gaps, especially in that first half defensively,” Christensen added.
As the game progressed, DWU maintained their momentum, leading 71-38 by the end of the third quarter. The final frame saw the Tigers outscore Midland 22-7, solidifying their largest lead of the game with a final score of 93-45. In total, five Tigers reached double figures in scoring, with Avery Orth leading the charge off the bench with a career-high 20 points and 8 rebounds.
Taliyah Hayes contributed significantly as well, recording 14 points along with four assists, three rebounds, three steals, and a block. “Avery and Taliyah did a very nice job coming off the bench today,” Christensen noted. “This is the best shooting game Taliyah had, so that’s good for her confidence.”
The Tigers showed impressive depth, with Rylee Rosenquist adding 12 points and Avery Broughton contributing 11 points, five rebounds, and four assists. DWU’s overall stats were impressive, shooting 36-of-73 (49.3%) from the field and tallying 56 points in the paint.
Meanwhile, Midland (0-7, 0-3 GPAC) struggled offensively, managing only 28.3% shooting from the field. Weber’s 11 points were not enough to overcome the Tigers’ overpowering performance. The Warriors’ Ellie Bovaird and Addy Offutt added 10 and 8 points, respectively.
With this latest victory, DWU has now scored a staggering 187 points in their last two games. Looking ahead, the Tigers are set to embark on a challenging road trip with four consecutive away games, starting with a GPAC matchup against Briar Cliff at 6 p.m. on November 25, 2023, in Sioux City, Iowa.
Stay tuned for more updates as the DWU women’s basketball team aims to build on this momentum in the upcoming games.
