Courtesy of Midland Athletics
FREMONT, Neb. – Midland University faced Dakota Wesleyan University in a Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) matchup on Saturday evening inside the Wikert Event Center. In a game marked by a back-and-forth exchange and numerous fouls on both teams, the Warriors’ comeback attempt fell short as they fell to the Tigers, 63-52.
Dakota Wesleyan opened with a layup and two free throws for the first four points of the game. The Warriors responded with a 4-2 run to apply pressure. Kennedy Darner broke the few quiet minutes from both teams to leave the Warriors trailing by just one. The game came to an 8-8 knot with a free throw by Jenna Weber with less than two minutes to go in the first. The Tigers ended the first with a 10-9 lead.
Both teams began to trade points to open up the second quarter. Darner returned the margin to a one-point game with a three-pointer as Midland looked to build some momentum. Back-to-back layups and free throws spurred a Tiger 6-0 run. At halftime, Midland trailed 29-22.
After the intermission, Gabby Beauperthuy and Jenna Weber got the Warriors going with layups, cutting into the Tigers’ lead. The teams began to match each other’s efforts as the game stayed close throughout the quarter. A three-pointer by Darner gave the Warriors the lead 34-32 but it was short-lived as DWU went on an 11-5 run to close out the third quarter, leading 43-39 with one period left.
Heading into the final ten minutes of action, the Tigers continued to apply pressure, gaining control of the ball. The Warriors’ comeback fell short, as Dakota Wesleyan took the double-digit win, 63-52.
For the game, Midland shot 19-of-43 (44.2%) while Dakota Wesleyan shot 22-of-59 (37.3%). The Tigers clinched the win off free throws, going 14-of-16 (87.5%) at the line.
Jenna Weber led the team with 16 points followed by Gabby Beauperthuy with 12 and Kennedy Darner with 11. Beauperthuy added a team-high six rebounds followed closely by Asia Bryant with five.
Midland (2-7, 0-5 GPAC) will look to snap their losing streak as they travel to Crete, Nebraska to take on Doane (5-2,3-1) next week. The midweek matchup is slated for Wednesday, December 6. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. inside the Haddix Center.
