The top-ranked Dordt women's basketball team held off No. 14 Dakota Wesleyan for an 86-81 victory Wednesday night at the De Witt Gymnasium, surviving multiple lead changes and momentum swings in a game defined by scoring runs.

• Box Score | PDF

Gracie Schoonhoven poured in a career-high 35 points, making 12-of-18 field goal attempts and converting on all 10 free throw attempts. 

Dordt (9-1, 5-1 GPAC) came out firing, hitting five three-pointers in the opening quarter to build a 29-22 lead. Willow Bleeker scored 12 of her 18 points in the first 10 minutes, and the Defenders led by as many as nine late in the period.

Dakota Wesleyan (6-4, 4-2 GPAC) clawed back in the second quarter, using a 13-4 surge to erase Dordt's nine-point cushion. Avery Broughton and Avery Orth combined for 11 points during the run, and the Tigers briefly led before Dordt settled in to take a 48-42 halftime advantage.

The third quarter belonged to the Tigers as Orth and Taliyah Hayes sparked a surge as DWU outscored Dordt 24-15 to grab a 66-63 lead heading into the final frame. Dordt's offense stalled during that stretch, going 0-for-4 from deep while DWU shot 62.5% from the floor.

Trailing by three to start the fourth, Schoonhoven scored nine of her game-high 35 points in the final period, and Macy Sievers added clutch free throws to go with  a key jumper as the Defenders closed on a 23-15 run. Dordt reclaimed the lead for good on Schoonhoven's basket with 7:19 remaining and the Defenders sealed the win at the line in the final minute.

By the Numbers: 

• the game featured four ties and seven lead changes
• Dordt shot 53% for the game and 50% or better in three of the four quarters
• the Defenders made 7-of-18 3pters (39%) and converted 21/26 free throws (81%)
• Schoonhoven led all players with a career-best 35 points, five more than her previous best against Hastings earlier this year
• Willow Bleeker scored 18 points, 15 from beyond the arc
• Macy Sievers tallied another double-double with 15 points, 13 rebounds to go with six assists
• Dordt held a 34-28 advantage on the boards, led by Sievers (13) and Schoonhoven (8)
• five DWU players scored in double figures, led by Avery Broughton and Taliyah Hayes with 16 points each
• Avery Orth was perfect from the field (7/7) en route to a 15 point effort
• Rylee Rosenquist (11) and Jaida Young (10) also scored in double figures

Defender Notes:

• Schoonhoven has scored in double figures in every game this season
• this was Schoonhoven's second 30-point game of the season and seventh game with 20+ points
• Bleeker has scored in double figures in six games this season
• Sievers picked up her seventh double-double of the season, 25th for her career
• Sievers' 13 rebounds is a season-high, two shy of matching her career-best
• Sievers moved into the career top 10 for 3pters made (133)
• the 21 free throws made by the Defenders was the second most in a game this season (22 vs Dakota State)
• the 7 3pters made is tied for the third most this season