MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team faces conference leader No. 24 Morningside College in Great Plains Athletic Conference play at 6 p.m. on Wednesday from the Rosen-Verdoorn Sports Center in Sioux City, Iowa. Dakota Wesleyan looks to upset Morningside after suffering a pair of close loses a week ago.
The Tigers (3-3, 1-3 GPAC) fell last Wednesday, 75-69 versus Northwestern College from the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D. In Saturday's matchup versus University of Jamestown, DWU dropped the closely contested match, 64-61 on the road in Jamestown, N.D.
A week ago, the Mustangs (7-2, 5-1 GPAC) suffered their first conference loss of the season 80-78 to Briar Cliff University off a last-second bucket by the Chargers. Morningside responded on Saturday with a convincing victory at home over Concordia University, 86-67.
Head coach Jamie Sale's team is limiting teams to 66.9 points per game and has forced 146 turnovers. Morningside currently ranks second in the GPAC in turnover margin with a 5.2 turnover differential through nine games. Offensively, the Mustangs are shooting 45.1% from the field and 73.8% from the charity stripe.
Equally dominant on defense as a unit, Dakota Wesleyan leads the conference in overall scoring defense restricting opponents to 63.7 points an outing. Teams are shooting just 38.3% from the field versus DWU while the Tigers are converting 42.2% of their field goals including 46 made 3-pointers so far this season.
Sierra Mitchell and Sophia Peppers have paced the Mustangs scoring wise as the duo averages 18.7 and 18.2 points per contest, respectively. Mitchell is shooting 43% from the field while Peppers has accumulated team highs with 58 made field goals and 59 total rebounds.
Freshmen Haidyn Pitsch has paced Jason Christensen's squad reaching double figures in her first six career games and has tallied 15.8 points per contest. Fellow Tiger Matti Reiner also averages double figures recording 11.7 points per game and leads DWU in offensive rebounding with 17 boards. Meanwhile, senior point guard Kaylee Kirk has a team-high 36 assists and 19 steals on the season.
A season ago both teams defended home court as Morningside college earned an 84-62 victory in Sioux City, Iowa and Dakota Wesleyan secured a 95-93 victory in Mitchell, S.D.