The Dordt Defender women’s basketball team lost an 80-71 decision to Sterling (Kansas) on Saturday afternoon in Orange City, Iowa.
In a game hosted by Northwestern, the Defenders were never able to take the lead in the fourth quarter and took a loss for the second time this season.
Dordt surrendered a 5-0 run to end the first quarter and trailed 22-18 at the conclusion of the period. Sterling maintained a lead until the midpoint of the second quarter when Bailey Beckman made one of her five three-point baskets for a 34-32 lead. The teams battled back and forth over the next five minutes and eventually settled for a 38-38 tie.
Another Beckman three-point basket gave Dordt its biggest lead of the second half at 46-43 with 5:17 left in the third period. Sterling worked back to a tie and eventually led 58-54 before an Ashtyn Veerbeek bucket made it 58-56 entering the fourth quarter.
A 7-0 run by the Warriors put them ahead 65-59 and Dordt was forced to battle back. The Defenders twice got to within two with an Erika Feenstra basket with 2:36 left in the game getting within 69-67 but an 8-0 answer by Sterling put the game out of reach for an eventual 80-71 win.
Dordt will travel to Midland in Fremont, Nebraska on Saturday, November 14.
