Courtesy of Midland Athletics
MITCHELL, S.D. – Midland University traveled to South Dakota on Saturday to continue Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) play against No. 17-ranked Dakota Wesleyan University at the World’s Only Corn Palace. Despite a stellar performance by Grace Holm, who posted her second career 20-point game, a dominant second-quarter run by the Tigers proved too much to overcome as the Warriors fell, 78-48. The loss extended Midland’s winless streak against Dakota Wesleyan at the Corn Palace to 20 games.
Sarah Shepard opened the scoring with a layup, followed by back-to-back three-pointers from Holm, giving Midland an 8-7 lead midway through the first quarter. However, the Tigers responded with a 10-0 run. A late three-pointer from the Warriors cut into the deficit, but Dakota Wesleyan led 17-11 heading into the second quarter.
The Tigers began the second quarter with a 14-2 run, building a commanding 31-13 lead with three minutes remaining in the half. Holm ended Midland’s six-minute scoring drought with another three-pointer, but the Warriors managed just one additional point before halftime, trailing 35-17 at the break.
Midland kept pace with Dakota Wesleyan early in the third quarter as Shepard and Zoey Sims added baskets. However, the Tigers soon pulled away with an 18-6 run. Two more threes from Holm accounted for Midland’s only made field goals during the stretch, and the Warriors entered the final quarter down 57-27.
The Warriors found some offensive rhythm in the fourth quarter, shooting 8-for-15 (53.3%) from the floor and 5-for-11 (45.5%) from three-point range, totaling 21 points. Dakota Wesleyan matched them point-for-point, closing the game with a 78-48 victory.
Midland shot 18-for-52 (34.6%) overall and 10-for-28 (35.7%) from beyond the arc. Dakota Wesleyan, meanwhile, shot 34-for-71 (47.9%) but struggled from three-point range, making just 4 of 25 attempts (16%). The Tigers dominated the boards, outrebounding the Warriors 47-22, and forced 15 Midland turnovers while committing only six. Those turnovers led to 14 points for Dakota Wesleyan, while Midland failed to capitalize on any Tiger miscues.
Holm led the Warriors with 21 points, shooting 7-for-10 (70%) — all from three-point range — and added four rebounds. Shepard contributed six rebounds, an assist, and a steal in 36 minutes.
Midland (1-10) will take a break for the winter holiday before returning to the court on December 29 at the Bruin Classic in Bellevue, Nebraska. The Warriors will face host Bellevue (9-3) on Sunday, December 29 at 5:00 p.m. followed by a 12:30 p.m. game against No. 22 Mayville State (8-3) on Monday, December 30.
