Dordt Women Fall In NAIA Championship, 77-65

Sioux City, Iowa — A slow start was too much for the Dordt Defender women’s basketball team to overcome in a 77-65 loss in the NAIA Women’s Basketball National Championship held in Sioux City, Iowa on Tuesday night, March 22.

Dordt trailed 10-8 after a Karly Gustafson field goal with 4:15 left in the first half but Dordt went cold from the field and the Saints from Thomas More went on an 11-0 run to end the period and led 21-8. Gustafson scored on a free throw to stop the run at the start of the second quarter but the Saints went on another 11-0 run to lead 32-9. The Defenders were down 40-15 at the end of the half and the lead grew to as much as 59-28 near the end of the third period.

Dordt cut into the lead with Macey Nielson and Ashtyn Veerbeek both hitting three-point shots and Hayden Heimensen had four three-point shots in the second half as the Defenders drew to within 73-63 with less than a minute left in the game. The 10 point difference was as close as Dordt would get before falling 77-65. The Defenders outscored Thomas More 35-18 in the fourth quarter and 50-37 in the second half.

Dordt was led by Karly Gustafson’s 23 points and eight rebounds.

Ashtyn Veerbeek and Hayden Heimensen each had 14 and Veerbeek had eight rebounds.

Janie Schoonhoven scored eight and had four rebounds.

Dordt converted 7-15 three-point shots and 26-66 field goals.

Thomas More was 29-64 from the field and 7-22 from the arc and owned a 40-26 rebounding advantage.

Dordt ends its season with a 29-9 mark.

Karly Gustafson and Ashtyn Veerbeek each were named to the All-Tournament First-Team and Gustafson earned the Hustle Award.