Ashtyn Veerbeek scored a game-high 26 points in leading (RV) Dordt University to a 67-65 road win against Dakota Wesleyan in a key conference showdown played tonight at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D.
The Defenders pushed their win streak to 10 games and improve to 10-5 in the GPAC, 17-6 overall. They are tied with Briar Cliff for third place in the current league standings and one game out of second place.
Veerbeek, the reigning GPAC Player of the Week, netted 18 of her 26 points in the first two quarters, missing just one shot from the field over the opening 20 minutes. She filled up the stat sheet with eight rebounds, three assists and five blocked shots before fouling out during the final minutes.
Dordt made its first nine shots from the field and raced out to a 23-14 advantage at the close of the first quarter. Veerbeek scored five straight points to finish off a 7-0 run to put the Defenders up by 13 (33-20) midway through the second quarter. Dordt maintained its 13-point lead at the half, 42-29.
Dakota Wesleyan owned the third quarter, outscoring the Defenders 26-9 for a 55-51 lead. Rynn Osthus converted back-to-back lay-ups to put the Tigers in front for the first time with 3:04 left in the third frame. DWU shot 73% compared to 31% by Dordt in the period.
Both teams clamped down defensively over the final 10 minutes as both Dordt and DWU shot around 27%. Down 60-55, Bailey Beckman drained a long three-pointer and Mya Chmielewski followed with a lay-up to tie the score with six minutes left.
Tied again at 62, Veerbeek scored on a fade-away 10-footer to give the Defenders the lead for good at the four-minute mark. The senior added a pair of free throws to make the score 66-63 but DWU scored off a jumper in the lane by Jada Campbell to make it a one-point game with one minute left.
Neither team was able to score on their next possessions, forcing DWU to foul, and Karly Gustafson converted 1-of-2 free throws for the final point. The Defenders earned one last stop as DWU’s potential game-tying shot fell short just before the horn.
Dordt shot 46% for the game, making good on 47% of its three-pointers (9/19). Beckman contributed 14 points, Janie Schoonhoven seven points and Gustafson grabbed 10 rebounds. The Defenders held a 35-29 edge on the boards.
Campbell led DWU with 16 points while the guard duo of Kaylee Kirk and Osthus scored 12 points each. The Tigers shot 41% for the game.
NEXT UP
The Defenders will make the long trip to Hastings, Neb. on Saturday, Jan. 29 to play the Broncos. Tip-off is scheduled for 2pm.
