Sioux City, Iowa — The Dordt Defenders used a 10-0 run to pull away from a 54-54 tie and won a quarterfinal round contest over The Master’s on Saturday night, March 19 in Sioux City, Iowa. The Defenders claimed a first ever spot in the NAIA National Championship semifinals with the win.
Dordt trailed 5-0 early but answered with a six-point run to take the lead on a Macey Nielson three-point basket. Four unanswered by the Mustangs put them up 9-6. Over the final three minutes of the quarter the Defenders outscored the California based school 9-4 and lead 15-13 at the quarter break.
The Defenders got the lead up to 21-13 after an Ashtyn Veerbeek basket to end an 11-0 run. Dordt led by as many as 10 in the second quarter and settled for a 31-24 lead at halftime.
The Mustangs rallied in the second half and took their first lead of the third quarter with 1:31 left in the period on an Ella Brubaker three-point shot and that lead stood till the end of the period. The lead changed hands five times up to a 50-49 Dordt advantage with 7:50 left and Janie Schoonhoven added to the lead with a basket and a Hayden Heimensen basket with 5:55 put Dordt up by five.
A three and two free throws by The Master’s tied the game at 54-54 with 4:35 left in the game. Nielson knocked down a three-point basket for a 57-54 lead at the 4:09 mark and Karly Gustafson added a basket in the lane after a Mya Chmielewski steal. After another turnover the Defenders got a top of the key three-point basket by Chmielewski to go up eight and the Defenders were 10-10 from the free throw line at the end of the game to forge the 72-56 win.
Dordt was 21-55 from the field for 38 percent success and 5-13 from the arc and 25-29 from the free throw line.
The Master’s was 21-55 from the field and 5-20 from the three-point line and 9-10 from the free throw line.
Dordt had a 41-27 rebounding advantage and forced 16 turnovers while committing 14.
Ashtyn Veerbeek had 22 points and six rebounds with five assists.
Karly Gustafson had 12 points and 10 rebounds and Bailey Beckman converted 12 points.
Janie Schoonhoven scored eight and had six rebounds and Hayden Heimensen scored seven with six rebounds and three assists.
Nielson had six points and Gustafson ad Chmielewski each had three steals.
Dordt is now 28-8 while the Master’s ends its season with a 32-4 mark.
Dordt will face Southeastern (Florida) on Monday night at 6:00 pm.
W🏀
“We bring a big crowd & it makes it that much more fun. Just playing with the girls too, it’s like a once in a lifetime opportunity”
Karly Gustafson & the @dordtdefenders will continue their battle in the semifinals on Mon night#PlayNAIA #NAIAWBB @GPACSports pic.twitter.com/UT8ifXha3k
— NAIA (@NAIA) March 20, 2022
Bill Harmsen’s post-game comments following the @dordtdefenders quarterfinal win over The Master’s. pic.twitter.com/4lCg7ZEL1f
— Great Plains Athletic Conference (@GPACSports) March 20, 2022
