Faith Van Holland poured in a career-high 17 points in leading No.5 Dordt University to a 74-49 home win against (RV) Grand View in a non-conference match-up between ranked teams played today at the De Witt Gymnasium.
Dordt improves its record to 14-0 this season as they head into conference play for the duration of the regular season. The Defenders are one of six teams still unbeaten in the NAIA. Grand View had its six-game win streak snapped and lost for just the third time this season, falling to 10-3.
Van Holland made good on 6-of-7 field goal attempts, including 2-of-3 from the three-point line, en route to a career-best scoring output. The junior dished out three assists, one shy of matching her season-high.
Hayden Heimensen was lights out from beyond the arc, draining all five of her three-point attempts, for a season-best 15 points.
Bailey Beckman added 12 points, giving the Defenders three players in double figures.
Dordt scored the first five points of the game and never trailed against the Vikings as they raced out to a 21-8 lead by the end of the first quarter. The hosts used a suffocating half-court defense to limit Grand View to 23% field goal percentage and force five turnovers in the opening frame.
Grand View began the second quarter with its best run of the game, outscoring the Defenders 13-6 to cut the hosts lead down to six (27-21) with 5:22 left in the first half. A lay-up by Van Holland followed by a jumper from
Eliana Kuperus sparked a 12-0 Dordt run as the hosts pushed its lead to 39-21 by halftime. The Defenders continued its dominance on the defensive end as they held the Vikings scoreless for the final five minutes.
Leading by 14 (55-41) after an evenly-played third quarter, Dordt put the game away with a decisive 15-0 run to start the fourth as they opened up its largest lead (70-49) after Heimensen drained her fifth and final three-pointer of the game. Van Holland scored eight points during the the final Defenders run.
By the Numbers...
- Dordt shot 48% for the game; they shot better than 50% in three of the four quarters
- The Defenders made 10 three-pointers (48%); the fourth game they converted 10+ three's this season
- Dordt held Grand View to its season-low in points scored
- Macy Sievers finished with four points, six boards and a team-high seven assists
- Eliana Kuperus contributed five points and a career-best seven rebounds
- Dordt outrebounded the Vikings 41-31, the seventh time this season with a +10 or better advantage
- Grand View shot 33% for the game, matching its season low (vs Columbia)
- Ella Larsen was the lone Vikings player to score in doube figures with 10 points
