Sioux Center, Iowa — Dordt will host Hastings in GPAC play on Friday, January 7 starting at 5:00 pm.
Hastings started the season with a 6-1 record with a loss to Peru State. A loss to the College of Saint Mary on November 23 started a four game losing skid to the Flames, Bellevue, Dakota Wesleyan and Jamestown. A 69-59 win over Midland on December 8 stopped the string and the Broncos split their last two games with a loss to Concordia and a win over Briar Cliff on January 1 by a 69-61 margin.
Dordt is 10-6 this season and is 3-5 in the league. The Defenders have won four of its last five games with the loss in the stretch coming to Dakota Wesleyan on December 11. Dordt has won three in a row since then and started the year 6-2. Dordt has GPAC wins over Northwestern, Mount Marty and Concordia.
Dordt is led by Ashtyn Veerbeek’s 18.3 points per game average, and she averages 8.6 rebounds per game while converting 50 percent of her field goals and she has 2.0 assists, 2.8 blocks and 1.4 steals per game. Veerbeek has also converted 11 three-point shots and is making 91 percent of her free throws. Bailey Beckman is good for 10.9 points per game, and she has made a team high 27 three-point baskets. Karly Gustafson is good for 9.5 points per game with 8.0 rebounds and Janie Schoonhoven scores 9.3 points per game with 6.5 rebounds and she is converting 62 percent of her field goals. Hayden Heimensen and Mya Chmielewski score 8.0 and 7.9 points per game and Macey Nielson has made 19 three-point shots this season.
The Defenders outscore teams 72.3-67.1 and outrebound teams 37.5-34.9. Dordt is converting 41 percent of its field goals and allowing teams 41 percent success. The Defenders are making the most of the free throw line where they average 24 attempts per game and are making 76 percent of those tries as a team.
Dordt will host Jamestown on Saturday, January 8 while Hastings will play Northwestern. Dordt is on the road against Doane on Wednesday night next week.
