No.2 Dordt University earned an 81-63 road win over No.9 Briar Cliff in a Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) women's basketball match-up between a pair of unbeaten and top 10 teams.
The Defenders improve to 6-0 in the conference and a perfect 11-0 on the season; Briar Cliff is tied with Concordia for second in the GPAC standings at 5-1, 9-1 overall.
Karly Gustafson, who led Defenders with 18 points, became the program's all-time career rebounding leader, breaking the record with her first rebound collected at the 4:24 mark of the first quarter. Gustafson finished the game with nine boards, one shy of her second double-double of the season.
The Defenders scored the first eight points and never trailed in the clash between top 10 teams. Holding a two-point lead (17-15) after one quarter, the teams traded baskets over the first three-plus minutes of the second resulting in a 25-21 Dordt advantage.
The Defenders, however, began an 8-0 run, using back-to-back three-pointers from Gustafson and
Hayden Heimensen and another basket by Gustafson to give Dordt its first double digit lead (33-21) with 2:04 left in the half. A
Macy Sievers steal and lay-up just ahead of the second quarter horn put the score at 35-23 as the teams went into halftime.
Still a 10-point game midway into the third quarter, Dordt put the game away with a 13-0 run where they held Briar Cliff scoreless for a two-minute stretch. Gustafson began the decisive run with a three-point play and then the Defenders' press team forced Briar Cliff into consecutive turnovers that led to a three-pointer by
Macey Nielson and a basket by
Gracie Schoonhoven. Another basket by Gustafson coupled with a three-point play from
Faith Van Holland extended the Dordt lead to 58-35 with two minutes left in the third quarter.
Another 6-0 run later in the quarter gave Dordt its biggest lead (66-40) after
Gracie Schoonhoven scored on consecutive lay-ups off assists from
Macy Sievers.
Three additional Defenders joined Gustafson in double figures, led by
Bailey Beckman with 14. Grace Schoonhoven contributed 12 points, five rebounds and a pair of steals and
Janie Schoonhoven chipped in a double-double (10 points, 12 rebounds).
A Closer Look at the Numbers:
- Dordt had the advantage in most statistical categories, including...
- field goal percetnage: 48% - 38%
- rebounding: 35 / 31 (+4)
- 3-point percentage: 27% / 24%
- the Defenders were a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line
- Gustafson surpassed Lisa Roos (1995-99) for the top spot on the career rebounds chart
- current top five and total:
- Karly Gustafson - 927
- Lisa Roos - 918
- McKinzie Schmidt - 900
- Mycah Hulst - 826
- Anita Tinklenberg - 809
- Bailey Beckman has scored in double figures in all but one game this season
- Karly Gustafson and Janie Schoonhoven have scored in double figures in seven games this season
- Gracie Schoonhoven extended her double figures scoring streak to six consecutive games, seven for the season
- Briar Cliff was led by Kennedy Benne with 20 points
