Dordt University women's basketball closed out the calendar year with a record-setting win, racing past Waldorf 117-46 in a GPAC match-up played Tuesday night at the De Witt Gymnasium.
The 117 points scored establishes a new program record, eclipsing the old (115pts) set in 2014 against Nebraska Wesleyan.
The Defenders improved to 13-1 overall and 7-1 in the conference, while Waldorf dropped to 1-13.
From the opening tip, Dordt seized control with a 13-0 run in the first three minutes, sparked by a Willow Bleeker three-pointer and back-to-back baskets from Gracie Schoonhoven. The Defenders stretched the margin to 20 points midway through the first quarter and led 32-7 after 10 minutes, fueled by relentless defense and transition scoring.
The second quarter brought more fireworks as Dordt opened with a 7-0 burst, highlighted by a Macy Sievers triple and a fast-break layup from Schoonhoven. Later in the period, the Defenders strung together a 12-2 spurt to push the lead past 40 points, heading into halftime up 63-21.
Waldorf briefly found rhythm in the third quarter with a pair of threes from Cloey Dmytruk, but Dordt answered immediately with a 10-0 run, including two deep balls from Aubrey Burkhart and Kaylee Davis. By the end of the third, Dordt had ballooned the margin to 95-40.
The fourth quarter was all Dordt bench depth, as the Defenders closed the game on a 14-2 surge, capped by Mara Grant's layup in the final seconds for the team's largest lead of the night at 71 points.
By the Numbers:
- the Defenders shot 52% for the game and a season-best 46% (13/28) from beyond the arc
- Dordt held a commanding 56-26 advantage on the boards, including 23-6 edge on the offensive end which yielded a 60-14 edge with points scored in the paint
- Gracie Schoonhoven netted a game-high 20 points on 8-of-12 from the field
- Olivia Harazin and Desta Hoogendoorn both scored 13 points
- Macy Sievers (12) and Aubrey Burkhart (10) gave the Defenders five players in double figures
- all 17 Defenders scored at least two points and played eight minutes or more
- Miylie Zomer pulled down a career-best eight rebounds, followed by Schoonhoven with seven
- Sievers led the Defenders with eight assists while Zomer contributed four, also a career-best
- Waldorf shot 31% from the field and was led by Cloey Dmytruk with 19 points
