For about the first 16 minutes of Sunday afternoon's game, the Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team was right there.
The Tigers offense was outscoring No. 13 Hastings College, their defense was confusing the Broncos and it seemed like DWU was in control of the game.
Near the end of the first half, something changed. The Tigers lost control and Hastings picked up the pace. The Broncos went on a 14-0 run to end the first half and start the second on their way to a 74-65 win at the Corn Palace.
"I'm not sure what happened," DWU coach Aaron Kahl said. "(Hastings) came out and opened the second half on a 12-0 run in two minutes, and that really took us out of our energy. I'm not sure what it was."
Allison Johnson hit a three to start the game for the Tigers, and after Lindsay Ducey hit her first basket of the game DWU went on an 11-4 run to grab a 14-6 lead. The Broncos answered with a 10-4 run of their own, capped off by a three from Kim Faimon to cut DWU's lead to two, 20-18.
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Two free throws and a layup pushed the lead back out to 24-18 for the Tigers, but Ducey, who averages 17.6 points per game, hit two free throws and converted a three-point play to get Hastings back within one again, 24-23.
Becky Tesch hit a three to tie the game at 26 for Hastings before Johnson hit her second three of the game for a 29-26 DWU lead. Faimon sank two free throws to cut the gap to one, 29-28, heading into intermission.
After halftime it was all the Broncos. Heather McKeon hit two threes and Faimon converted a three-point play for a quick 37-29 lead for Hastings. Johnson hit another three, her third of the game, to stop the 14-0 run, but the Tigers would never get closer than eight the rest of the game.
Dakota Wesleyan was even with the Broncos, who are now 15-5 overall and 6-5 in the GPAC, in several category. Both teams shot just over 44 percent from the field and both pulled down 34 rebounds.
Hastings, however, shot 73 percent from the free-throw line to the Tigers' 67 percent and Hastings forced 23 DWU turnovers while committing just 18 of its own.
"We didn't get a lot of easy baskets," Kahl said. "They're a good defensive team and they didn't give up many easy baskets. They did a nice job on transition."
Dakota Wesleyan senior Sarah Mortenson led the Tigers with 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Allison and Ashley Johnson each added 13 points and Jessica Deinert also had seven rebounds.
"Sarah does a lot of things for us," Kahl said. "We expect that from her now that she's a senior. She's our leader."
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Ducey led all scorers with 22 points for the Broncos and she also grabbed 11 rebounds. Faimon added 14 points and Kay Broekemeier had four assists.
The Tigers are now 11-2 overall and 4-7 in the GPAC and travel to Sioux City, Iowa, Wednesday to take on No. 1-ranked and undefeated Morningside College. The Mustangs are 23-0 overall and 11-0 in the GPAC.
