The No. 1 Dordt University women's basketball team used a dominant second-half performance to overcome a double-digit deficit and earn a 65–59 win over No. 9 Dakota Wesleyan on Wednesday night at the Corn Palace. The win secures the Defenders fourth-straight GPAC regular season title
Dordt extends it win streak to 18 games as they improve to 20-1 in the conference, 26-1 overall, with one game left in the regular season. Dakota Wesleyan drops to 17-4 in the GPAC, 21-6 overall, and has its 10-game home win streak snapped.
Dordt found itself playing from behind for much of the first half, as cold shooting contributed to a 16–11 deficit after the opening quarter. The Defenders shot just 20% (4/20) in the opening 10-minutes.
Dakota Wesleyan continued to control the pace in the second period, stretching the lead to 31–22 at halftime. The Tigers extended that margin to 41–27 midway in the third quarter, marking their largest advantage of the night.
The game turned dramatically in Dordt's favor from that point on. Over the final five minutes of the third quarter, the Defenders erupted for a 21–3 run sparked by tough defense and transition scoring. Gracie Schoonhoven and Willow Bleeker provided key baskets during the surge, Taylor Drent knocked down a three-pointer while Macy Sievers added free throws to chip away at the deficit. With the momentum fully shifting, Bleeker knocked down a corner three in the closing seconds of the period to give Dordt its first lead since the opening minutes at 46–44.
Dordt carried that momentum into the fourth quarter, opening with five straight points from Bleeker and a fast-break three from Sievers to push the lead to 52–44. Another three from Sievers made it 55–46, capping a 28–5 stretch for the Defenders. Dakota Wesleyan fought back to within four in the closing minutes, but Dordt's defense delivered timely stops and forced the Tigers into late turnovers. Sievers sealed the win at the free-throw line, going 6-for-6 in the final 40 seconds.
By the Numbers:
- Macy Sievers scored a season-high 27 points, one shy of matching her career-high, and contributed five rebounds and six assists
- Gracie Schoonhoven (12pts) and Willow Bleeker (10pts) also scored in double figures for Head Coach Bill Harmsen's squad
- Taylor Drent added seven points, four rebounds and two steals while playing a season-high 30 minutes
- Dordt shot a season-low 34% from the field but forced Dakota Wesleyan into 26 turnovers, matching its season-high
- the Defenders were outrebounded for just the fourth time this season
- Emma Yost led DWU with 18 points and 10 rebounds
- Avery Broughton (11pts) and Taliyah Hayes (10pts) were also in double figures
Notes:
- this is the fourth consecutive GPAC regular season title for the Defenders, matching Concordia (2017-20) for the second most in conference history
- Morningside won five straight (2005-09)
- the Defenders conference record during the last four years: 81-6, heading into Saturday's game at Waldorf
- this was the Defenders 10th win against a ranked team this season
- by winning the GPAC regular season title, the Defenders secure the No.1 seed in the upcoming, 8-team GPAC tournament
- Schoonhoven has scored in double figures in four straight and in 26-of-27 games overall this season
- Sievers has scored in double figures in eight consecutive and in a total of 21 games this season
- Sievers has eight, 20-point games this season
- Bleeker scored in double figures in back-to-back games and has made a 3-pointer in 19 straight games
- Burkhart has made a three-pointer in 17 straight games
