The Dordt Defender women's basketball team battled to their fourth overtime victory of the season with an 86-80 win over Northwestern on Wednesday night, February 5 at the De Witt Gym in Sioux Center.

Box Score (PDF)

Dordt never trailed after Northwestern scored the first two points of the game and responded with a 10-0 run and pushed the lead to 30-10 at the end of the first period on a three-pointer at the buzzer by Brooke Smith.  Willow Bleeker helped the Defender cause by going 3-6 from the three-point line in the first quarter and the Defenders enjoyed a 20 point lead at 39-19 after an Ellie Lems field goal.

From the 4:48 mark to the 1:30 mark of the half Northwestern went on a 17-0 run to get as close as 39-36 but the Defenders scored on a Janie Van Donge field goal and a Willow Bleeker basket right before the half to lead 43-36. Dordt maintained the lead in the third quarter, leading 52-42 after a Gracie Schoonhoven basket and a Macy Sievers basket with 3:46 left in the period extended the difference to 12.

Dordt maintained control in the fourth quarter and led 66-52 with 8:14 left and a Van Donge basket with 5:14 left had Dordt still in front by 10 at 72-62. Over the next three minutes Northwestern outscored
Dordt 10-0 and tied the game at 72-72 and both teams missed chances to take the lead on offensive possessions.

A Van Donge basket as the shot clock expired gave Dordt the lead and after a defensive stop the Defenders were fouled and made one of two free throws.  Northwestern's ensuing inbounds play after a timeout looked like it was in trouble but Lexie Van Kekerix's 25-foot off-balance shot tied the game at the horn.

Dordt regrouped and scored the first six points of the overtime and never led by less than four and sealed the win with a pair of Macy Sievers free throws for the 86-80 final.

Dordt is 23-1 overall and 17-1 in the league with four games to go.

Northwestern is 16-8 overall and 12-6 in the GPAC.

THE NUMBERS
Northwestern | 27-60 fg | 10-21 3pt fg | 16-20 ft | 28 reb | 12 to
Dordt | 33-65 fg | 7-17 3pt fg | 13-17 ft | 41 reb | 16 to

Dordt Leaders
Janie Van Donge | 25 pts | 5 rebs | 3 stl
Macy Sievers | 12 pts | 11 rebs | 6 ast
Willow Bleeker | 11 pts | 3 rebs
Olivia Harazin | 10 pts | 4 rebs
Gacie Schoonhoven | 13 pts | 5 rebs | 4 ast | 4 stl

Northwestern Leaders
Ashtyn Wobig | 22 pts | 3 rebs
Hali Anderson | 19 pts | 6 rebs | 5 ast
Lexie Van Kekerix | 16 pts | 4 rebs
Molly Schany | 13 pts | 8 rebs | 3 ast

NEXT
Dordt will host Midland in GPAC play on Saturday, February 8.
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