A dominant first quarter proved to be the difference in leading No.5 Dordt University to a 65-55 win over No.16 Northwestern in a top 25 match-up between unbeaten teams played tonight at the DeWitt Gym.
Dordt improved its record to 6-0 in the GPAC, 11-0 overall, and handed the Red Raiders their first loss of the season.
Karli Gustafson recorded her sixth double-double of the season with a game-high in points (23) and rebounds (10). Gustafson missed just two shots all night, going 9-for-11 from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line.
Bailey Beckman contributed 11 points and
Janie Schoonhoven scored 10 points to go with eight boards, giving Dordt three players who scored in double figures.
Consecutive baskets from Gustafson, Schoonhoven and Beckman in the opening minutes put Dordt in front 6-0. From there, Dordt used a stifling defensive effort to limit Northwestern to just one field goal over the entirety of the opening quarter to take a commanding 18-6 lead after 10 minutes of play. The Red Raiders made just 1-of-11 field goals in the opening frame.
Leading 20-10 early in the second quarter, Dordt began an 8-0 run as the they grabbed its largest lead of the night (28-10) on a made jumper by Schoonhoven with 6:15 left in the first half. Northwestern rallied just before the first half came to a close as Molly Schany scored on a jumper in the lane and Taylor VanderVelde drained a three-pointer to put their team within seven (30-23). Dordt scored on its final possession of the half, however, to put the hosts in front 32-23.
Both teams went on substantial scoring runs in an evenly played third quarter that resulted in a 50-39 Defenders lead. Three-pointers from Beckman and
McKenna Klecker sparked a 10-0 Dordt scoring flurry as the hosts led 44-26 with five minutes left in the third. Northwestern answered with a 12-2 run of its own, finished off with a Maren Nerem lay-up, in trimming the Dordt lead to 46-38 with just over 90 seconds left.
Hayden Heimensen scoring a transition basket off a nice feed from
Macy Sievers as time expired to give Dordt an 11-point advantage at quarters end.
Northwestern made one last push, getting to within six (54-48) after a three-point play by Molly Schany, midway through the final quarter. A couple of Gustafson free throws followed by a
Macey Nielson three-pointer on the Defenders next two possessions secured the hosts win.
By the Numbers...
- Dordt overcame its lowest shooting percentage of the season, making 41% of its field goal attempts; Northwestern shot 42%, 1/8 from the 3-point line
- The Defenders were perfect from the free throw line, making good on all 11 of its attempts
- Dordt held a 33-29 advantage on the glass and forced Northwestern into 15 turnovers
- Macy Sievers dished out a game-high six assists
- Molly Schany and Maddie Jones led Northwestern with 17 points each
