No.1 Dordt University used a huge first half run to pull away and defeat 10th-ranked Briar Clff 94-78 in a top-10 match-up played tonight at the De Witt Gym.
Karly Gustafson and
Macy Sievers both had a double-double for the top-ranked Defenders, who improved to 12-0 in the GPAC, 17-1 overall. Gustafson led Dordt with 22 points, her second highest total of the season, and 10 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. Sievers came up one assist shy of a triple-double, scoring 11 points to go with 13 rebounds and nine assists.
The lead went back-and-forth early as the teams traded baskets for the first six minutes. Following a basket by Kennedy Benne that put the Chargers up 12-9, Dordt began a 14-0 run to close out the first quarter and took the lead for good 23-12. A free throw by
Gracie Schoonhoven got things started for the Defenders, who proceeded to force Briar Cliff into four straight turnovers that led to three-pointers from
Olivia Harazin and
Faith Van Holland along with baskets by Gustafson and
Eliana Kuperus. A couple of missed three-pointers and another turnover by the Chargers led to a
Hayden Heimensen three-pointer that closed out the quarter.
A
Janie Schoonhoven basket on the opening possession of the second frame extended the run to 16-0 as the Defenders led 25-12. Consecutive baskets by Sievers pushed the Dordt lead to 29-14 before a Payton Slaughter jumper ended the hosts 20-2 run. Dordt held Briar Cliff without a field goal for just over seven minutes.
The Defenders offense continued to excel over the final six-plus minutes of the half as they outscored the Chargers 21-14 to take a 50-28 lead into halftime, keyed by
Gracie Schoonhoven who netted 10 points during the run.
Dordt began the second half with an 11-5 run, triggered by Gustafson with six points, as the Defenders held their largest lead (61-33) after a basket from
Janie Schoonhoven. The Defenders outscored the Chargers 26-22 overall in the period and led 76-50 going into the fourth quarter.
Five players scored in double figures for the well-balanced Defenders offense, In addition to Gustafson and Sievers,
Gracie Schoonhoven netted 19 points while
Bailey Beckman (12pts) and
Hayden Heimensen (10pts) were also in double figures.
Konnor Sudmann led Briar Cliff with 28 points, going a perfect 13-for-13 from the free throw line. Cadence Davis was the only BCU player to reach double figures with 10 points. The Chargers drop to 7-5 in the GPAC, 12-6 overall.
By the Numbers:
- Dordt shot 46% for the game, 33% (6/18) from the three-point line
- Briar Cliff shot 39% for the game, 30% (7/23) from the arc
- both teams shot well from the charity stripe
- Dordt - 20/24
- Briar Cliff made all 25 of its free throw attempts
- the Defenders once again dominated the glass, outrebounding BCU 46-32 including 23 on the offensive side
Individual Notes:
- Gustafson moved into second place all-time in career scoring, passing Amber Soodsma (2007-11); Gustafson has 1,746 points and trails Erika Feenstra (1,867) by 121 points
- Gustafson recorded her third double-double of the season and 26th of her career
- Sievers recorded her second double-double of the season and career
- with her nine assists, Sievers has 300 for her career and moved up to sixth all-time
- Gracie Schoonhoven finished one point shy of matching her career high and has scored in double figures in 13 consecutive games
