No.1 Dordt University closed the first quarter on an 18-0 run en route to a 95-37 win over Doane in the first game back after the Christmas break played tonight at the De Witt Gym.
The Defenders stay unbeaten, improving to 8-0 in the GPAC, 15-0 overall, while extending their lead in the conference standings to two full games. Doane falls to 5-3 in the conference,10-4 overall.
Stella Charleston poured in a career-high 18 points, making 6-of-8 three-point attempts, to lead all scorers. Both
Macy Sievers and
Gracie Schoonhoven delivered 12 points each while Sievers dished out a game-high nine assists.
Trailing 11-3 after a basket by Tigers guard Libby Trausch at the 5:33 mark of the first quarter, Dordt scored the final 18 points of the period to take control of the game and lead 21-11. Six different Defenders scored during the decisive run, led by
Janie Van Donge with five, including a three-point play, while
Willow Bleeker drained a three-pointer just before time expired to give Dordt a 10-point advantage. Dordt's defense took over, forcing Doane into four turnovers and 0-7 from the field over the final four-plus minutes.
After a Doane basket to start the second quarter, Dordt proceeded to outscore the Tigers 30-3 over the final nine-plus minutes of the quarter for a commanding 51-16 halftime lead. The Defenders began the surge with a 13-0 run, led by
Olivia Harazin with four points and Charleston, who connected on the first of her six three-pointers. Back-to-back three-pointers by Charleston and
Taylor Drent put the hosts in front 39-15 while a run of four straight points by
Gracie Schoonhoven extended the lead to 43-15. Sievers closed the half with a three-pointer as time expired; the Defenders once again clamped down defensively, holding Doane to just one field goal (1/9).
Dordt extended its lead to 40 early in the third quarter after a free throw by Hoogendoorn and a three-pointer from
Brooke Smith. The Defenders outscored Doane 19-9 in the third quarter and continued to dominate with a 25-point fourth quarter where the hosts made seven three-pointers, three by Charleston and one each for
Izzy McCool,
Trinity Watson and
Ava Lingemann.
By the Numbers:
- the Defenders shot 47% for the game, 44% (15/34) from the 3-point line
- Doane shot 25% for the game, 6% (1/18) from the arc; well below their season average (45% from the field, 32% from 3-point line)
- Dordt shot 12/16 (75%) from the free throw line; Doane went 10/20 (50%) from the charity stripe
- Dordt held a commanding edge (51-31) on the glass, including a 17-8 edge in offensive rebounds
- the Defenders forced 19 turnovers and committed just 12
- Stella Charleston led all scorers with 18 points, going 6/8 from the 3-point line
- both Macy Sievers and Gracie Schoonhoven contributed 12 points each
- 14 different Dordt players scored and all 16 Defenders played at least four minutes
- Desta Hoogendoorn and Taylor Drent led the Defenders with eight and seven rebounds, respectively
- Sievers led Dordt with nine assists
- Macy Holtz led Doane with 11 points and was the only Tigers player to score in double figures
Defender Notes:
- the 58-point margin of victory is the largest for the Defenders this season
- previous-best was 51 points vs College of Saint Mary
- the 37 points given up is the second lowest of the season for the Defenders
- the Defenders held Doane to 25% from the field, second best of the season by Dordt
- 23% vs Hope International
- Dordt limited Doane to one three-pointer, second lowest of the season
- the Defenders outrebounded their opponent for the 13th time this season
- this was the fifth game that Dordt held a 20+ rebound advantage
- Dordt shot 44% from the 3-point line, fourth best this season
- this was the fifth game that Dordt made 10-plus 3pters
- Charleston's previous career-best was five points vs Waldorf earlier this season
- Charleston tied both Willow Bleeker and Olivia Harazin for the most three-pointers made in a single game this season (6)
- Gracie Schoonhoven has scored in double figures in all four games played this season
- Sievers has scored in double figures in 13 of her 14 games this season
