The Dordt Defenders battled back from an early deficit to win the championship game of the 2024 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Women’s Basketball Tournament in Sioux Center, Iowa, on Tuesday night 79-71over Concordia.Top seed Dordt posted a home win over #5 seed Dakota Wesleyan 69-59, while two seed Concordia also won at home over #3 Briar Cliff 87-74.
Dordt and Concordia have secured automatic bids to the NAIA Women’s Basketball National Tournament, by way of Dordt (regular season champion) making the championship game.
The Bulldogs started hot from beyond the arc, jumping out to a 29-16 lead after the first quarter. Concordia was able to keep the Defenders at distance for most of the game. But the final frame belonged to Dordt, as they outscored the Bulldogs 31-17 to eventually pull away for the win.
The Defenders were led in scoring by Janie Schoonhoven with 24 points, one of four Dordt players in double figures. The Bulldogs, who also had four players in double digits, were paced by Kendal Brigham with 21.
64 teams will make the NAIA Women’s Basketball Postseason this year. Games will be played at First and Second Round Sites on March 15-16 (four team pods). The 16 opening round site winners will play in the NAIA Women’s Basketball National Championship is set for March 21-26, 2024, in Sioux City, Iowa, at the Tyson Events Center.
The 64-team tournament field will be announced on Thursday, March 7, at 7pm during the NAIA Selection Show.
