Dakota Wesleyan outlasts Concordia in overtime, 103-97

Dakota Wesleyan outscored Concordia 17-11 in overtime and picked up a 103-97 women’s basketball win on Sunday afternoon in Mitchell.  The host Tigers improved to 6-14 overall and 2-8 in conference play with the win.  Concordia dropped to 10-9 overall and 3-6 in the GPAC with the loss. 

DWU used hot shooting in the opening half to build a big lead.  The Tigers were 16-of-26 (61.5 percent) overall from the field and 7-of-9 (77.8 percent) from long range in the opening 20 minutes.  The Tigers also went a perfect 6-of-6 at the foul line.  Concordia, on the other hand, struggled to find the range offensively in the first half.  The Bulldogs were 12-of-34 (35.3 percent) and 3-of-11 (27.3 percent) from deep.  Dakota Wesleyan led by as many as 21 in the first half and took a 45-33 lead into halftime.

A quick 10-3 run by Concordia to open the second half trimmed the Tiger lead to just five at 48-43.  DWU reclaimed a double-digit lead, but Concordia continued to chip away.  Dakota Wesleyan led by four (86-82) with less than a minute remaining in regulation.  Treva Nutter (Thedford, Neb.) scored to cut the lead to two at 86-84 with 40 seconds remaining.  Following a miss by DWU, Amber Kistler (Minatare, Neb.) scored with just three seconds remaining to tie the score and send the game to overtime.

Concordia was 20-of-37 (54.1 percent) from the field in the second half.  The Bulldogs also made 8-of-15 (53.3 percent) from long range as they got back into the game.  Dakota Wesleyan also continued its solid shooting in the second half, hitting 14-of-27 shots for 51.9 percent.   

Dakota Wesleyan controlled the overtime period to pick up the win.  The Tigers opened overtime with a 6-0 run and led by as many as nine (97-88) in the extra frame.  Solid free throw shooting down the stretch preserved the 103-97 win for the Tigers.

For the game, DWU was 33-of-60 (55 percent) from the field and 14-of-26 (53.8 percent) from deep.  The Tigers were 23-of-35 at the foul line for 65.7 percent.  The Tigers totaled 23 assists on their 33 made field goals and outrebounded Concordia 44-40.  DWU won the game despite 29 turnovers on the day.

Kim Johnson poured in 22 points off the bench to lead five players in double figures for DWU.  Johnson was 8-of-9 from the field, 2-of-2 on 3-pointers and 4-of-4 at the foul line.  Liz Lamb added 20 points and four assists, while Amanda Hart scored 18.  Brittany Hills delivered 15 points and dished out seven assists, and Brittany Pritchard also reached double figures with 10 points. 

Concordia was 37-of-81 (45.7 percent) from the field in the loss.  The Bulldogs were 12-of-29 (41.4 percent) on 3-pointers and just 11-of-20 (55 percent) from the foul line.  Concordia had 19 assists on 37 made field goals.  Turnovers were also costly for the Bulldogs, who totaled 20 in the loss. 

Nutter finished with a team-high 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting to lead seven players in double figures for Concordia.  Nutter also handed out seven assists.  Katie Rich (Tilden, Neb.) poured in 15 points, while Myhiah Dotzler (Omaha, Neb.), Kistler and Lori Laboda (Parker, Colo.) all scored 12.  Kristen Conahan (Omaha, Neb.) and Kat Ommen (Jefferson City, Mo.) each scored 11 off the bench for the Bulldogs. 

Concordia hosts Midland University on January 19.  Tip is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Health, Human Performance and Athletic Center.