The No.7 Dordt University women's basketball team used a suffocating defense effort to defeat Mayville State (N.D.) 75-49 in the final game of the Pizza Ranch Classic played this morning on the campus of Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa.
Jaelyn Huntimer netted a game-high 12 points and both
Aubrey Burkhart and
Gracie Van Donge contributed 10 points for the Defenders, who improved to 4-0 this season. All 18 Defenders in uniform for the game saw court time and no player played more than 22 minutes as Dordt Head Coach
Bill Harmsen subbed liberally against the Comets.
Leading 5-4, a lay-up by Huntimer after a Mayville State turnover ignited a decisive 12-3 Defenders run, finished off with a Burkhart three-pointer to put Dordt in front 17-7 by the end of the first quarter.
Another three-pointer by Burkhart extended the Dordt lead to 24-10 with seven minutes left in the first half. The Defenders defense took over from there as they forced three consecutive turnovers which led to transition baskets for Van Donge (2) and
Ella Merriman to push the lead to 24 (40-18).
Dordt led 43-18 by halftime as they forced Mayville State into 18 turnovers and limited the Comets to only four made field goals (4/25 - 16%).
The Defenders began the third quarter with a 15-0 run, finished off with back-to-back three-pointers from
Payton Beckman and Huntimer, while defensively Dordt held the Comets scoreless for over five minutes to take a 55-18 lead.
By the Numbers:
- Dordt shot 40% for the game, 24% (7/29) from the 3-point line
- Mayville State was held to 26% for the game, 25% (4/16) from the arc
- both team attempted 20 free throws; Dordt made 14 (70%) and Mayville State converted 17 (85%)
- Mayville State held a slight edge (42-41) on the boards; both teams grabbed 15 offensive boards
- Dordt committed 17 turnovers and forced the Comets into 27
- Miylie Zomer led the Defenders with eight rebounds
- Van Donge pulled down seven rebounds to go with a team-high four assists
- Mayville State (1-2) was led by Sydney Schwabe with 11 points and Kennison Azure with 10
Notes:
