The Dakota Wesleyan University (DWU) women’s basketball team is making a strong push in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) title race, having won eight consecutive games as the regular season reaches its midpoint. With a record of 14-4 overall and 10-2 in conference play, the Tigers are currently tied for second place with Concordia (15-3, 10-2 GPAC).
As the season progresses, the competition intensifies, particularly with a crucial matchup against Concordia scheduled for 2 p.m. on January 21, 2024, at the Corn Palace. Earlier this season, DWU narrowly defeated the Bulldogs 59-56 on December 6 in Seward, Nebraska. The only team ahead of both DWU and Concordia is Dordt, the two-time defending national champions, who hold a record of 17-1 and are ranked No. 1 in the country.
Dordt faced an unexpected setback with a 73-68 overtime loss to Doane on December 6, marking only their fourth conference loss since the start of the 2023-24 season. The Defenders previously defeated DWU 86-81 on December 10 in Sioux Center, Iowa. Dordt is set to visit the Corn Palace for DWU’s regular-season home finale on February 18, 2024.
In the battle for playoff positioning, Briar Cliff (14-4, 8-4 GPAC) and Hastings (12-6, 8-4 GPAC), ranked No. 16 and receiving votes in the national poll, are contending for fourth place, which would secure a first-round home game in the GPAC postseason tournament. Mount Marty (11-7, 6-6 GPAC) stands in sixth place, while Morningside (10-8, 5-7 GPAC), Northwestern (9-9, 5-7 GPAC), and Doane (7-9, 5-7 GPAC) are tied for seventh.
Despite their early season success, Doane’s spot in the GPAC tournament remains uncertain. The tournament will feature only the top eight teams, meaning that one of the teams currently in the tie for seventh could be left out. College of Saint Mary (3-15, 2-10 GPAC) holds a slight edge over Midland (2-16, 1-11 GPAC) and Waldorf (2-16, 1-11 GPAC), who occupy the bottom of the standings.
While the DWU women’s team is thriving, the men’s program faces a steeper challenge as they seek to improve their position. As of January 16, 2024, the Tigers (10-9, 5-6 GPAC) were part of a four-way tie for sixth place with Doane (10-8, 5-6 GPAC), Dordt (10-9, 5-6 GPAC), and Midland (9-10, 5-6 GPAC). This logjam is only one game ahead of Hastings (5-14, 4-7 GPAC) and one game behind a three-way tie for third between Northwestern (14-5, 6-5 GPAC), Briar Cliff (9-9, 6-5 GPAC), and Mount Marty (7-9, 6-5 GPAC).
The DWU men’s team has rebounded from a five-game losing streak, winning five of their last six games. Their upcoming match against Concordia will be pivotal, as a victory could bring them within one game of the No. 2 spot in the conference. Morningside (13-5, 10-1 GPAC) currently leads the standings, having only lost once in GPAC play, to Midland during the conference opener on November 15, 2023.
As the season progresses, the competitive landscape of the GPAC remains tightly contested. With teams separated by just a few games, the outcomes of upcoming matches will significantly influence playoff seeding and aspirations for the postseason.
