No.1 Dordt University rallied from its largest deficit of the season to earn a 77-70 overtime win over Morningside in a GPAC women's basketball match-up played tonight at the Allee Gym in Sioux City, Iowa.
Macy Sievers led the Defenders with 16 points, one of four Dordt players to score in double figures.
Desta Hoogendoorn netted 13 points,
Olivia Harazin scored all 12 of her points in the second half while
Gracie Schoonhoven chipped in 10 points.
Dordt improved its record to 16-0 in the GPAC, holding a 3.5 game lead over both Briar Cliff and Dakota Wesleyan in the current standings with six games left in the regular season. The Defenders are 22-0 overall and extend their win streak to 31 games. Morningside slips to 8-7 in the conference, 10-11 overall.
How It Happened:
- Morningside scored the first six points of the game and raced out to a 9-2 lead after three minutes of play
- the host Mustangs extended their lead to 22-11 by the end of the first quarter, shooting 53% compared to 31% by Dordt
- the teams played nearly even in the second quarter; Dordt outscored the hosts 15-13 to trail by nine (35-26) at halftime
- the Defenders began the third quarter with six consecutive points and were down by three, 35-32, after baskets by Harazin, Ellie Lems and Janie Van Donge
- Morningside responded with an 11-0 run and outscored the Defenders 18-5 to build up its largest lead (53-37) with 3:38 left in the third quarter
- the Defenders came back by scoring the final 11 points of the quarter, finished off with five straight points byHarazin, to trim the lead down to 53-48
- Dordt's scoring run continued into the fourth quarter as the Defenders rattled off 13 straight points, in total a 24-0 run, for a 61-53 advantage after a basket by Harazin
- a Willow Bleeker three-pointer gave Dordt its first lead (55-53) at the 8:09 mark during the run
- back-to-back three-pointers by Mustangs guard Jordyn Carr sparked a Morningside rally as they tied the game at 64 with 1:30 left
- Dordt went back in front on a jumper by Hoogendoorn with 1:09 left but Lily Vollerstan converted a lay-up with one second left to send the game into overtime, 66-66
- tied again at 68, Dordt went ahead for good on a jumper by Van Donge off an assist by Sievers
- Van Donge and Sievers scored nine of the Defenders 11 points in the overtime period and Dordt held the Mustangs to just one field goal in the extra frame
By the Numbers:
- Dordt shot 44% for the game, 53% in the second half and overtime period; the Defenders made 5-of-19 3-point attempts (26%)
- Morningside shot 48% for the game, 44% (8/18) from the 3-point line
- Dordt struggled from the free throw line (57%, 12/21) compared to 91% (10/11) by Morningside
- the Defenders held a 40-31 advantage on the boards, 17-5 on the offensive glass
- Dordt committed 22 turnovers compared to 29 by Morningside
- Van Donge led the Defenders with 10 rebounds and a career-high eight assists
- Sievers pulled down nine boards and contributed seven assists
- Morningside was led by Jordyn Carr and Lily Vollertsen with 16 points each
Defender Notes:
- Dordt's 16-point deficit was the largest of the season (previous high was 10 points vs Dakota State)
- this was the first time the Defenders had a lower shooting percentage than their opponent this season
- Dordt continues to dominate its opponents on the glass as they have outrebounded teams in all but one game this season
- the Defenders totaled 16 steals, two shy from matching their season-high and their third consecutive game with 10+
- Sievers scored in double figures in her team-leading 20th game of the season
- Harazin scored in double figures in her 13th game
- Gracie Schoonhoven netted double figures for the 10th time
- Hoogendoorn netted double figures in her seventh game
