MITCHELL, S.D. – Hosting its first game of the 2021 calendar year, the Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team looks to knock off Concordia University in a Great Plains Athletic Conference game at 6 p.m. tomorrow at the Corn Palace.
The Game
The Tigers are looking to make it two in a row to start the new year with a victory tomorrow. DWU picked up a road victory on Saturday versus Doane University, 80-42. The Tigers collected 21 second-chance points and outscored Doane 28-4 in the second quarter while forcing 27 turnovers and eight steals.
Freshman guard Haidyn Pitsch (Prior Lake, Minn.) continues to energize the team, as she averages 14.6 points per game including a career-high 23 points versus Doane on Saturday. Pitsch ranks ninth in the GPAC in points per outing. Junior Kaylee Kirk (Balaton, Minn.) has also been a spark as she leads DWU in assists and steals with 61 and 32, respectively. Kirk sits fifth nationally in total assists and ranks 13th in the NAIA in steals.
Balance play from Matti Reiner (Tripp, S.D.) also helps pace DWU as she leads the team in double-doubles with two, posting such performances versus Midland University and Dickinson State University. She currently sits second on the team in both scoring and rebounding averaging 11.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
As a team, the Tigers check in at seventh nationally with 49 total blocks and are 15th in the NAIA in total assists at 193.
The Coaches
Jason Christensen (Dakota Wesleyan University '98) is in his 11th season with the DWU women's basketball squad and is the winningest coach in program history.
Drew Olson is in his 14th season as the Concordia University women's head basketball coach. Under Olson's direction, the Bulldogs have boasted an overall record of 288-46 and a GPAC mark of 169-29.
The Series
The series has been controlled by CUNE, holding a 35-13 record in games played between the schools. The Bulldogs swept the Tigers in their two matchups last season.
Scouting the Concordia Bulldogs
Concordia holds an overall record of 10-5 including a 9-3 record in conference play and is currently on a four-game winning streak. The Bulldogs continue to rely on strong play on both ends of the court as Olson's squad ranks first nationally in total steals with 187 and second in the NAIA in total 3-pointers made at 153.
Taysha Rushton provides the spark for the Bulldogs. She sits sixth nationally in total scoring with 225 points scored. Rushton garners 36 made 3-pointers which ranks fourth nationally and is 10th in the NAIA in total assists at 51.
The game will be live streamed with stats online at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/dwu/.