A fast start combined with a strong defensive effort gave the Dordt Defender women's basketball team its sixth win of the season and first of GPAC play with an 88-72 road win over the Morningside Mustangs on Wednesday night, November 16 in Sioux City, Iowa.
The Defenders used 61 percent field goal shooting, including 5-8 from the arc, in the first half to push out to a 21-14 lead, getting the last three points on a field by
Bailey Beckman for the seven point edge. A
Karly Gustafson basket followed by a
Hayden Heimensen three-point bucket put Dordt up by double-digits. The lead grew to as many as 19 late in the half on a pair of
Macy Sievers free throws but Morningside looked poised to crawl back to within striking distance on back to back three-pointers to end the first half and make it 43-30.
Morningside opened the second half with a basket but Dordt got a three-point play by
Karly Gustafson to re-establish a double digit lead that lasted most of the period. Morningside rallied to within 62-53 on a pair of free throws by
Hayden Heimensen got a basket and
Bailey Beckman knocked down a jumper and Dordt's lead was 66-53 heading into the final quarter. Dordt was never really challenged in the fourth quarter, maintaining a double digit lead the rest of the game and went on to win 88-72.
THE NUMBERS
- Dordt was 31-60 from the field and 13-29 from the three-point line for 52 and 45 percent success.
- Morningside was held to 25-57 shooting for 44 percent success and 9-18 from the arc.
- Dordt held a 37-31 rebounding edge and forced 16 turnovers while giving up 16 turnovers.
- Bailey Beckman scored 25 points and made five three-point baskets.
- Karly Gustafson had 16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists with three steals.
- Janie Schoonhoven added 12 points and 13 rebounds with two assists and four steals.
- McKenna Klecker made three, three-point baskets for nine points and Hayden Heimensen scored eight.
- Macy Sievers had seven points and eight assists and two steals.
- Dordt is 6-0/1-0 and will host Concordia on Saturday.
- The win was the first for Dordt in women's basketball at Allee Gym since the 1979-80 season.
