January 9, 2007

Vikings Drop Two at Home

Blair, Nebraska ~ The Dana College Women’s Basketball team found 2007 not to be to its liking thus far.  The Vikings dropped two consecutive home, conference games at home last week.  Dana saw Midland take home a 66-50 victory on January 2 and then Dakota Wesleyan nipped Dana 71-68 Friday afternoon.

On Tuesday, Midland and Dana each shot 33.3-percent in the opening period.  Midland Lutheran opened the game on an 8-1 run.  Coach Mechels’ used a time out to regroup her team.  Amy Nichol (JR, Des Moines, IA) hit a jumper and then used a three pointer to draw Dana within two points at 8-10.  Midland was able to hold onto the lead, but was unable to stretch it.  Then Nichol tied the game at 16-16 with eight minutes left as she hit her second three pointer of the half.    Unable to mount any momentum, Dana saw Midland raced back out to a nine point lead with under four minutes left in the half.  Tricia Trotter (FR, Treynor, IA) hit a three-pointer with time winding down in the half to pull Dana within three.

Dana forced two turnovers to open the second half, but was unable to close the gap.  Midland started the second half with on a 14-3 run to put the game out of reach.  Amy Nichol and Michelle Weinrich (JR, Pierce, NE) each hit three pointers as Dana looked to make a come back.  The Warriors were unaffected by the Vikings’ late run and answered back with two jumpers of their own.  Heidi Gowery (FR, St. Helena, NE) hit a three pointer to pull Dana within 11 with three minutes left, but that was as close as the Vikings would get.

Amy Nichol was the lone Viking in double digits with 21 points.  Nichol added five steals and four rebounds.  Amanda Bryant (SO, Treynor, IA) added seven points and nine rebounds.  Tricia Trotter and Jillian Bryant (FR, McCook, NE) each chipped in six points.

The loss dropped Dana to 1-6 in GPAC play and 7-8 overall.

The Vikings did not have much time to worry about the Midland loss as Dakota Wesleyan came to Blair on Friday afternoon.  The early start didn’t seem to affect either squad.  Each team shot over 48-percent in the first period, but neither team could pull away.  The two teams exchanged baskets and leads over the first ten minutes.  Dana then stretched its lead to six points as Amanda Bryant sank two free throws.  The lead was short lived as the Tigers capitalized on two Viking turnovers to pull back with in one point.  Dana stretched its lead back to seven points when Tricia Trotter sank a 15-foot jumper.  Dakota Wesleyan clawed to within three points as halftime sounded.

Dana came out unable to find the basket in the start of the second half.  Dana missed its first shot of the half and saw DWU come down and drain a three pointer to tie the game.  A minute later the Tigers gained their first lead since midway through the first half.  Dana did not lead again from that point.  Dakota Wesleyan held the Vikings at bay the remainder of the game.  Every time Dana would draw close or even, DWU would answer and regain the lead.  The Tigers held a five point lead with two minutes left in the game.  Jennifer Endres (JR, Lincoln, NE) forced a DWU turnover, but Dana was unable to convert on the offensive end.  Tricia Trotter fast-break lay-up got the Vikings within three in the final minute, but Dana was unable to tie the game up as Endres three-pointer at the buzzer fell into the hands of a DWU player. 

Amy Nichol scored 29 points in the Viking loss.  This was her second straight game above 20.  “Amy has played well the past few game,” commented Coach Brenda Mechels.  “She is trying to shoulder an injured team.”

Tricia Trotter scored 14 points and dished out three points.  Amanda Bryant scored 13 points and pulled down eight rebounds in the Dana loss. 

The injury bug has hampered Dana the past few games.  Allie Lamb (SO, North English, IA) has not played since Christmas due to a stress fracture.  Her replacement Kalen Carlson (FR, Omaha, NE) is also out with a broken foot.  “Teams have been able to focus their attention in the paint on Amanda while Allie has been injured,” added Coach Mechels.  “We are hoping to have Allie back within the next couple of weeks.”

The loss drops Dana to 1-7 in conference play and 7-9 overall.  The Vikings travel to Seward on Tuesday (January 9) to take on Concordia University at 7:30pm. The reserve team will play at 5:30 against Concordia.  Dana will not be home until January 20^th when they host Morningside College.

For more information, contact:
Shad Beam, sports information director, (402) 426-7389, sbeam@dana.edu
— or —
Scott Guzinski, assistant Sports Information Director, (402) 426-7949, sguzinsk@dana.edu