Box Score SCORE

Dordt def. Spring Arbor 87-67

Sioux City bound! pic.twitter.com/1O9VbZ2W48

— Dordt Defender Athletics (@dordtdefenders) March 17, 2024

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Dordt Defender women's basketball team secured its third straight trip to the NAIA National Championship Final Site with an 87-67 win over Spring Arbor on Saturday, March 16 in a game played in Sioux Center.  The Defenders trailed briefly in the first quarter but extended the lead to double figures in at halftime and never led by less than 10 in the second half in their 31^st win of the season.

Dordt trailed 8-5 midway through the first quarter and dealt with turnover and foul trouble early, sending Karly Gustafson to the bench early in the game with her second foul.  Faith Van Holland converted a three-point shot with 3:44 left in the quarter to tie the game at 10 and it was tied again at 12 and 14.
 

???HIGHLIGHTS | @DordtWBB
vs Spring Arbor, NAIA 2nd Round

Faith Van Holland ties the score, 10-10, with a 3pter pic.twitter.com/sOtWFzOywc

— Dordt Defender Athletics (@dordtdefenders) March 16, 2024

Macy Sievers knocked down a pair of free throws and Taylor Drent added a free throw at the :12 mark and Dordt led 17-14 to end the period. Dordt extended the lead to 24-16 on another Van Holland three. Dordt's first double-digit lead came at 31-20 with 2:32 left in the half on a Macy Sievers three-point basket and the Defenders were up 34-28 at halftime.

Spring Arbor managed to bring the difference back to 10 on sever occasions in the third quarter but Dordt extended the lead to 20 by the end of the period and Drent's basket to close the scoring in the third made it 68-48.  The fourth quarter was played at least an 18 point difference before Dordt settled for the 87-67 final.
 

???HIGHLIGHTS | @DordtWBB
vs Spring Arbor, NAIA 2nd Round
2nd quarter
Bailey scores on a lay-up, Defenders up 24-17 pic.twitter.com/rqkpmDIpgE

— Dordt Defender Athletics (@dordtdefenders) March 17, 2024

 

???3rd quarter HIGHLIGHTS | @DordtWBB
vs Spring Arbor, NAIA 2nd Round

AND-1 for Eliana! pic.twitter.com/bqgX4xrCVp

— Dordt Defender Athletics (@dordtdefenders) March 17, 2024

THE NUMBERS

• Dordt was 25-54 from the field and 9-19 from the arc while converting 28-31 from the free throw line.
• Spring Arbor was 23-61 from the field and 3-19 from the three-point line while converting 18-26 free throws.
• Dordt had a 36-35 rebounding edge and committee 16 turnovers but just 10 in the final three quarters.
  • Dordt Leaders
    • Macy Sievers: 21 pts | 5 rebs | 8 assists
    • Janie Schoonhoven: 19 pts | 7 rebs
    • Bailey Beckman: 15 pts | 4 rebs
    • Faith Van Holland: 9 pts
    • Eliana Kuperus: 7 pts | 7 rebs
  • Spring Arbor Leaders
    • Alex Long: 11 pts | 4 rebs
    • Alana Nelson: 10 pts | 8 rebs
    • Alayna Kulesza: 10 pts | 6 rebs
    • Sydney Aunins: 12 pts | 4 rebs

NEXT

Dordt will face Mayville State on Friday, March 22 at 6 pm in a Round of 16 contest in Sioux City, Iowa.