Feb. 8—CRETE, Neb. — A strong start for the Dakota Wesleyan University women’s basketball team spelled out win No. 20 on the season and the Tigers’ 14th win in a row on Sunday in Great Plains Athletic Conference action.
No. 9-ranked DWU broke out to a 21-4 lead after the first quarter and never looked back for a 69-47 win at Doane. The victory was the 13th this season for the Tigers by a margin of at least 20 points or more.
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It is the fifth consecutive 20-win season for the Tigers and the 10th in a row under coach Jason Christensen (excluding the COVID-19-impacted 2020-21 season). The Tigers’ 14-game win streak is also the NAIA’s fourth-longest active win streak among women’s basketball programs.
DWU (20-4) is now 16-2 in GPAC action and remains within a game of the lead in the conference, keeping chase with No. 1-ranked Dordt, which is 17-1 in league play. The Tigers have a two-game lead over third-place Concordia, which they swept during the regular season.
DWU hit eight of its last nine shots in the first quarter to build a decisive lead, including a 10-0 run powered by a pair of Taliyah Hayes 3-pointers over the final 3 minutes of the period that stretched the lead to double digits. Doane never got closer than 14 points for the remainder of the game, and the visiting Tigers led by as many as 25 points before the game’s end.
DWU’s balanced attack was led by Avery Broughton, who recorded 17 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Rylee Rosenquist posted a double-double, finishing with 14 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Shalayne Nagel contributed 12 points, nine rebounds and four steals, while Emma Yost added 10 points and eight rebounds.
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DWU controlled the story of the game inside, holding a 54-35 rebounding advantage, including 21 offensive rebounds and a 19-2 advantage in second-chance points. DWU outscored Doane for points in the paint by a 36-22 margin.
Doane (10-13, 8-11 GPAC) was led by Megan Chambers, who finished with a game-high 18 points and six rebounds. Keeleigh Knobbe also reached double figures with 14 points. Overall, Doane shot 30% from the field and committed 15 turnovers to DWU’s nine.
DWU will continue its road stretch of the schedule by visiting Waldorf at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, in Forest City, Iowa.
No. 9 Dakota Wesleyan 69, Doane 47
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Dakota Wesleyan (20-4): Shalayne Nagel 5-10 2-4 12, Jaida Young 1-3 0-0 2, Avery Broughton 6-16 5-10 17, Emma Yost 5-11 0-0 10, Rylee Rosenquist 5-11 4-7 14, Taliyah Hayes 3-8 0-0 9, Isabelle Ellwein 0-2 0-0 0, Maleighya Estes 2-4 1-1 5, Avery Orth 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-66 12-22 69.
Doane (10-13): Mattea Kassebaum 3-12 3-6 9, Ella Johnson 0-3 0-0 0, Keeleigh Knobbe 4-8 4-8 14, Megan Chambers 6-14 6-8 18, Rylie Rice 1-8 0-0 3, Emma Vander Plaats 0-2 0-0 0, Addie Hatcliff 0-0 0-0 0, Grace Thompson 1-2 0-0 3, Emma Brown 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 15-50 13-22 47.
DWU 21 43 58 69
DU 4 23 36 47
3-point field goals: DWU 3-17 (Hayes 3-6, Nagel 0-2, Young 0-2, Broughton 0-1, Yost 0-2, Rosenquist 0-2, Ellwein 0-2), DU 4-13 (Knobbe 2-3, Rice 1-4, Thompson 1-2, Kassebaum 0-1, Johnson 0-2, Chambers 0-1). Total fouls: DWU 20, DU 19. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: DWU 54 (Rosenquist 10, Nagel 9, Broughton 8, Yost 8), DU 35 (Kassebaum 6, Chambers 6). Assists: DWU 17 (Broughton 4, Rosenquist 4), DU 7 (Johnson 2, Knobbe 2). Steals: DWU 10 (Nagel 4), DU 6 (Kassebaum 2, Chambers 2). Blocks: DWU 5 (Broughton 3), DU 1 (Thompson).
