No.1 Dordt University outscored No.16 Bethel (Tenn.) 48-24 in the second half and defeated the Wildcats 84-52 in the first national semifinal game of the 2025 NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship played this evening at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.
The Defenders, who improve to 34-2, advance to their second consecutive national title game and third in the last four years. They will play No.4 Indiana Wesleyan at 7pm.
Janie Van Donge led the Defenders with 20 points and a season-high 16 boards, two shy of her career high, recording her 20th double-double of the season.
Gracie Schoonhoven scored 15 points, reaching double figures in her fourth straight game, and
Macy Sievers netted 14 points and distributed 11 assists for her 12th double-double of the season.
With Bethel up by three (26-23) after Mid-South Freshman of the Year Micah Hart knocked down a three-pointer following the media timeout in the second quarter, Dordt closed with a 13-2 decisive run for a 36-28 halftime lead. Dordt made its final four field goal attempts of the half and five different players scored during the surge, led by Van Donge and
Desta Hoogendoorn with five and four points, respectively. Defensively, the Defenders buckled down as well, limiting Bethel to just one field goal over the final 4:30.
The Defenders scored the first six points of the third quarter, pushing their run to 19-2, as they opened up a 14-point lead (42-28) on a jumper by
Ellie Lems. Bethel closed the gap to 11 (47-36) after a three-point play from Micah Hart at the 3:08 mark of the third quarter. Dordt, however, thwarted the Wildcats surge with an 11-3 run of its own, spearheaded by three-pointers from Sievers and
Willow Bleeker for a 58-39 advantage by quarters end.
Dordt put the game away with a 16-5 run to start the fourth quarter, led by Van Donge and Schoonhoven who combined for 10 points during the 4-plus minute stretch.
Micah Hart led Bethel with 20 points on 6-of-17 from the field and Madison Hart scored 13, four points below her season average, but was held to just two points in the second half. Bethel, one of six teams from the Mid-South Conference in the overall field of 64, ends the season with a 27-8 overall record
The Defenders trailed most of the first quarter and did not take the lead until a three-point play by Schoonhoven finished off an 8-0 run at the close of the quarter for a 17-14 advantage.
By the Numbers:
- Dordt shot 54% for the game and a season-best 75% (6/8) from beyond the arc
- Bethel was held to 29% for the game, well below its season average (42%); the Wildcats shot 24% (7/29) from the arc
- Dordt continued to shoot well from the free throw line, making 16-of-21 attempts (76%)
- the Wildcats were 11/13 (85%) from the free throw line
- Dordt dominated the boards, outrebounding Bethel 44-25
Notes:
- Dordt improved to 18-3 all-time at the NAIA Championship
- the Defenders advance to the championship game for the third time in program history, all in the last four years and under Head Coach Bill Harmsen
- Dordt shot a season-best from the three-point arc (75%)
- the Defenders held its opponent to under 30% shooting for the seventh time this season
- the 32-point win is the second largest margin of victory by the Defenders at the final site
- 78-43 vs Campbellsville in 2021-22 (rd of 16)
- Dordt improved to 17-2 against ranked teams this season
- Van Donge scored in double figures for the 30th time this season and second time at the final site
- this was the 20th double-double of the season for Van Donge
- Sievers has scored in double figures in a team-best 31 games this season, three at the final site
- Sievers has 12 double-doubles this season, five with the points + assists combo
- Schoonhoven has scored in double figures in four consecutive games, 17 for the season
- Bleeker has made at least one three-pointer in 26 straight games
- Sievers moved into 11th place all-time in career scoring (1,290pts), passing Serena Van Beek (1998-2002)
- Van Donge set the program record for rebounds in a season (371), passing Ashtyn Veerbeek (2021-22)
- Dordt's bench outscored Bethel 30-11
