By Jake Knabel, Concordia (Neb.) Sports Information Director

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – (Box Score) A late fourth-quarter run put Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in control in its fifth all-time appearance at the NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships. Behind 27 points from first team all-Great Plains Athletic Conference forward Erica Herrold, the third-seeded Tigers held off Haskell (Kan.), 75-64, in a first-round contest featuring two rosters with no national tournament experience entering the 2016 event.

Head coach Jason Christensen’s squad moved to 26-8 overall and has advanced to play again Friday at 10:15 a.m. CT in the second round of the 2016 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships, presented by Mercy Medical Center and Seaboard Triumph Foods. On the other hand, Shane Flanagan’s group ends its season at 23-7 overall.

After trailing by as many as 16 points, Haskell came back to knot the score at 58 apiece on a 3-pointer from Tyler Sumpter with just over seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Just a couple minutes later, order was restored for the Tigers. A cold-blooded Herrold triple midway through the fourth quarter pushed Dakota Wesleyan’s lead to 67-60. Then with 1:11 left, Herrold pumped in a three-point play that provided a double-digit advantage (72-62).

The Tigers earned their first win on the national stage since reaching the national quarterfinals in 2004 despite a second half cold snap that Sumpter (19 points, eight rebounds) and company took advantage of. Sumpter tallied 12 of her 19 points over the game’s final 20 minutes for a program making its second trip to the national stage. Inside, Keli Warrior went for 18 points and five rebounds for the Indians.

Haskell trailed 44-30 at the half, but cut its deficit to six by the close of the third quarter. Sumpter then scored the game’s next six points to make it an even ballgame. Herrold responded with a bucket to put Dakota Wesleyan back in front. Sumpter missed on a chance to tie on the next possession and the Tigers began to pull away.

Ranked 10th in the final poll, the Tigers also got 13 points apiece from Ashley Bray and Amber Bray. Ashley recorded a double-double while chipping in 13 rebounds. Kristin Sabers contributed 10 points off the bench for Dakota Wesleyan, which outshot Haskell, 48.1 percent to 41.7.