The Dordt Defenders were unable to maintain first half lead and dropped a 73-68 overtime decision at Doane on Saturday afternoon in Crete, Nebraska.

Box Score (PDF)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Dordt built a strong first-half advantage, turning a 15–9 first-quarter lead into a 36–28 halftime margin. Gracie Schoonhoven and Desta Hoogendoorn helped the Defenders to a 12 point lead late in the half but Doane went into the locker room down eight after cutting four points off the advantage.

Doane surged back in the second half behind Mattea Kassebaum and Rylie Rice. The Tigers hit perimeter shots in the third quarter, clawing back to tie the game at 42–42 before briefly taking the lead.
Dordt held a narrow 45–44 edge entering the fourth, but Doane opened the final period on a 7–2 push to seize a 51–47 lead. Dordt rallied  with baskets f
from Schoonhoven and Burkhart, setting up a tense final two minutes.

With Doane leading 57–54 at the 2:52 mark, Dordt responded when Gracie Schoonhoven scored in transition to cut the deficit to one. After defensive stops on both ends, Schoonhoven again powered inside, grabbing an offensive rebound and scoring with 1:03 left to put Dordt ahead 58–57. Doane tied the game at 58–58 on two free throws by Megan Chambers with :46 remaining, but Dordt answered as Taylor Drent finished a layup off a feed from Schoonhoven to make it 60–59 with :25 left.

Kassebaum drew a foul with :19 on the clock and made one of two free throws to tie the game at 60–60. Dordt appeared poised to win when Macy Sievers scored on a ten-footer with 1.3 seconds remaining but Doane got the ball to Chambers in the paint and she scored at the buzzer to force overtime at 62–62.

In overtime, the teams traded baskets early, with Hoogendoorn scoring twice in the paint to keep Dordt within one at 68–69 entering the final minute. Doane, however, converted crucial free throws in the closing seconds and held off the Defenders, handing Dordt a 73–68 road loss.

THE NUMBERS

Dordt Team Stats

• Field Goals: 25–70 (35.7%)
• Three-Pointers: 4–26 (15.4%)
• Rebounds: 49
• Turnovers: 19

Doane Team Stats

• Field Goals: 26–65 (40.0%)
• Three-Pointers: 5–25 (20.0%)
• Rebounds: 43
• Turnovers: 17

Dordt Statistical Leaders

• Points:
  • Gracie Schoonhoven – 19
  • Desta Hoogendoorn – 13
  • Aubrey Burkhart – 10
• Rebounds:
  • Desta Hoogendoorn – 13
  • Gracie Schoonhoven – 9
  • Taylor Drent – 8
• Assists:
  • Macy Sievers – 5
  • Gracie Schoonhoven – 5
• Steals:
  • Gracie Schoonhoven – 3
  • Willow Bleeker – 1
  • Macy Sievers – 2
  • Aubrey Burkhart – 1

 
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