SIOUX CITY, IA [BOX SCORE | BRACKET] – In the 2026 NAIA Women’s Basketball National Championship Quarterfinal, the Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) Tigers held off the Bethel (Tenn.) Wildcats in a neck-and-neck battle that resulted in a DWU victory, 82–77.
The Tigers set the tone early, winning the first quarter 21–16 behind an efficient offense. The Wildcats responded with their best stretch of the night in the second, flipping the game with a 26-point stretch to take a 42–38 halftime lead. The game was knotted up in the third, setting up a tight finish before DWU pulled away late with a decisive 23–15 fourth quarter to seal the five-point win.
Rylee Rosenquist delivered the defining performance of the game, erupting for 40 points on 12-of-18 shooting, including 15-of-18 at the free-throw line. Avery Broughton added 21 points in the win, while Emma Yost filled the stat sheet with 12 points and eight assists.
Bethel got a huge night from Micah Hart, who scored 35 points, while contributing defensively with three steals and two blocks. Mikee Buchanan followed with 21 points, knocking down five from beyond the arc. MJ Simmons chipped in 11 points and went a perfect 6-of-6 at the line.
Dakota Wesleyan shot 57.4% from the field compared to Bethel’s 38.8%, while also winning the rebounding battle 36-27.
With the loss, Bethel is eliminated from tournament play and finishes the season with a 28-6 record.
Dakota Wesleyan moves into semifinal action for the program’s fifth appearance, with the last appearance being in 2019. The Tigers return to action on Monday, March 23 at 8 p.m. CT, taking on the winner of Marian (Ind.) and Campbellsville (Ky.).
