No.1 Dordt University used a dominant second-quarter surge to seize control and roll to a 78–55 road victory over Northwestern in conference action on Wednesday night at the Bultman Center.
The Defenders improved to 20–1 overall and 14–1 in conference play, while the Red Raiders dropped to 10–11 on the season.
Dordt weathered an early Northwestern push before closing the first quarter on a steady run to take an 18–14 lead.
The Defenders then completely shifted the momentum early in the second quarter, opening the period with a 10–0 run to stretch the margin to double digits. Dordt shot a blistering 12-of-15 from the floor in the quarter and outscored Northwestern 28–7 over the 10-minute stretch, turning a four-point game into a commanding 46–21 halftime advantage.
Gracie Schoonhoven and
Macy Sievers fueled the run with efficient scoring, while Dordt's defense forced turnovers that led to easy points in transition and the paint. The Defenders scored 23 points off turnovers for the game, repeatedly capitalizing on Northwestern miscues.
Northwestern attempted to regroup coming out of the break, but Dordt responded with another spurt to maintain control. An early 8–2 run midway through the third quarter pushed the lead back over 20, and the Defenders carried a 61–32 advantage into the final period.
By the Numbers:
- Gracie Schoonhoven poured in a game-high 27 points, going 11-of-15 from the field
- Macy Sievers scored 24 points to go with five assists and a season-high six steals
- Olivia Harazin added eight points and a team-leading five rebounds
- Dordt shot 48% from the field, 30% (7/23) from the 3-point line
- the Defenders made good on 13-of-19 free throws
- Northwestern shot 43% from the field, 22% (4/18) from beyond the arc
- Dordt held a slight edge (32-30) on the boards
- the Defenders forced 23 turnovers and committed just 13
Defender Notes:
- the streak continues as Schoonhoven has scored in double figures in every game this season
- Schoonhoven has scored 20-plus points in eight straight games and 17 for the season
- Sievers scored in double figures for the 16th time this season and 20-or-more for the seventh time this season
- Bleeker made a three-pointer in her 13th straight game
- Burkhart extended her streak to 11 straight games with a made three-pointer
- Dordt outrebounded its opponent for the 19th time this season (all but two games)
- the Defenders have shot better than its opponent in 19 games this season
- Dordt held Northwestern to nearly 20 points below its scoring average
- the Defenders earned their fourth straight win over Northwestern
- the Defenders pushed their win streak to 12
Up Next:
- Dordt will host Mount Marty on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 2pm
