Bellevue, Nebraska — The Dordt Defender women’s basketball team used a strong defensive performance and good free throw shooting to defeat the Bellevue Bruins in Bellevue, Nebraska on Tuesday night, November 9 by a 71-62 margin.
Dordt took the lead for good with a 9-0 run midway through the second quarter and fought off a pair of Bellevue challenges to secure its third win in four starts.
The Defenders took a 9-2 lead with 4:36 left in the first quarter but allowed a 8-0 run over the next three minutes before settling for an 11-10 first quarter lead. The hosts took a 24-19 lead with 5:26 left in the half but Bailey Beckman’s three-point basket ignited a 9-0 run that was capped by a pair of Hayden Heimensen free throws. The lead wouldn’t last as the Bruins tied the game at 30 and the teams went to the half break tied.
Dordt started the second half with a 9-0 run as Karly Gustafson got seven points in that run and the Defenders led 52-47 after a Bruin three at the third quarter buzzer. Heimensen got a lay up to push Dordt ahead by seven early in the fourth and Bellevue was never closer than six the rest of the game as Dordt converted all 10 of its free throws in the fourth quarter.
Dordt was 32-36 from the free throw line and 18-54 from the field. Bellevue converted 21-52 shots and 12-16 free throws.
Bellevue had a 35-34 rebounding edge but Dordt had just 13 turnovers to 21 for the hosts.
Hailey Heimensen had 20 points to lead all players.
Bailey Beckman added 14 and Mya Chmielewski had 11 points and eight rebounds with three assists.
Ashtyn Veerbeek had seven points, seven rebounds and eight blocked shots while Karly Gustafson and Faith Van Holland each had seven points.
Dordt is 3-1 and will play Marian (Indiana) on Friday.
