CRETE, Neb. — Dakota Wesleyan put the game away almost as soon as it began.
The Tigers exploded out of the gate with a dominant first quarter and never looked back, rolling past Doane (Neb.) 69–47 on Sunday afternoon at the Haddix Center. Dakota Wesleyan improved to 20–4 overall and 16–2 in conference play, while the Tigers of Doane dropped to 10–13 (8–11).
Dakota Wesleyan set the tone immediately, opening the game on a 21–4 run in the first quarter while holding Doane scoreless for more than six minutes. The Tigers defensive pressure forced turnovers and rushed shots, helping DWU build a commanding 21–4 advantage after one.
The momentum continued into the second quarter as Dakota Wesleyan stretched the lead to as many as 26 points. A strong rebounding effort and second-chance opportunities allowed the Tigers to control the paint, and they went into halftime with a 43–23 cushion.
Doane showed some fight coming out of the break, trimming the deficit early in the third quarter, but Dakota Wesleyan answered each push. Emma Yost and Avery Broughton provided steady offense in the lane, while Rylee Rosenquist anchored the glass to keep DWU firmly in control. The Tigers carried a 58–36 lead into the final period.
The fourth quarter followed a similar script, with Dakota Wesleyan maintaining its advantage and closing the door late to secure the 22-point road victory.
Broughton led Dakota Wesleyan with 17 points to go along with four assists, while Rosenquist posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Shalayne Nagel added 12 points and nine rebounds, and the Tigers finished with a decisive 53–34 edge on the boards.
Doane was paced by Megan Chambers, who scored a team-high 18 points, and Keeleigh Knobbe, who added 14.
Up next, Dakota Wesleyan will be at Waldorf on Wednesday at 5 pm.