SIOUX CITY, Iowa - The Dakota Wesleyan University women’s basketball team were just a few inches away from knocking off No. 12 Briar Cliff University Tuesday.
But a last second 3-pointer by Mitchell native Taylor Piper rattled in and out as time expired and the Tigers fell to the Chargers 89-88 in Great Plains Athletic Conference action.
With 20 seconds to go in the game, DWU held an 88-87 lead, but a Tiger foul with 4 seconds left on the clock sent Briar Cliff’s Morgan Hansen to the free-throw line with a chance to win the game.
The freshman forward knocked down both free throws to give the Chargers the lead.
“We fought hard and the kids played hard for 40 minutes, but we came up short at the end,” DWU women’s basketball coach Jason Christensen said.
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The loss marks the first conference loss of the season for DWU.
The Tigers (6-2, 1-1 GPAC) held a 41-39 lead at halftime and were led by a trio of players with 15 points. Junior forward Katie Johnson, freshman forward and Dimock native Erica Herrold and junior guard Celeste Beck each tallied 15 points. Beck also had 10 rebounds and five assists.
Freshman forward and Mitchell native Kristin Sabers chipped in with 13 points, while Alexandria native Amanda Hart tallied 14 points and dished out five assists for the Tigers.
“We held them to 39 points in the first half, but in the second half they got to the free-throw line a lot more,” Christensen said. “They ended up getting to the free throw line 38 times to our 15, which was the difference in the second half.”
The Tigers had one less rebound than the Chargers, while both teams each had 18 turnovers.
DWU was 34-for-75 from the field, including 9-of-30 from behind the three-point line.
Six Briar Cliff (7-2, 3-2 GPAC) players scored in double figures and was led by Slone Masters and Kaylee Blake, who each had 15 points.
Morgan Hansen added 14 points for the Chargers.
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The Tigers are back in action Dec. 4 against Morningside College at 6 p.m. in Sioux City, Iowa.
Dakota Wesleyan 88
Briar Cliff 89
DWU (6-2, 1-1 GPAC)
Micaela Erickson, 3-9 0-2 6; Taylor Piper 0-3 2-3 2; Amanda Hart 5-17 0-0 14; Kim Johnson 2-4 0-0 6; Katie Johnson 5-8 5-6 15; Erica Herrold 6-13 3-3 15; Celeste Beck 6-9 0-0 15; Skyler Heyden 1-1 0-0 2; Kristin Sabers 6-11 1-1 13.
Briar Cliff (7-2, 3-2 GPAC)
Lexi Henschke 1-3 0-0 2; Slone Masters 5-10 4-10 15; Chante Williams 0-5 2-2 2; Morgan Hansen 5-10 4-7 14; Kaylee Blake 4-9 7-8 15; Paige Herrboldt 2-4 0-0 4; Jordan Sanger 5-8 0-1 12; McKenzie Shipley 4-8 3-4 13; Heather Haber 2-2 6-6 10; Regan Cooper 1-4 0-0 2.
Halftime 41-39 DWU. 3-point field goals: DWU 9-30 (Hart 4, Beck 3, Ka. Johnson 2), BC 5-19 (Sanger 2, Shipley 2, Masters 1). Rebounds: DWU 42 (Beck 10), BC 43 (Haber 7, Blake 7). Assists: DWU 25 (Beck 5, Piper 5, Hart 5), BC 25 (Haber 5, Sanger 5). Steals: DWU 10 (Hart 4), BC 12 (Sanger 5). Turnovers: DWU 18, BC 18. Total fouls: DWU 25, BC 20. Fouled out: DWU Ka. Johnson.
