Sioux Center, Iowa — The Dordt Defender women used a strong defensive effort in the second half to forge a 69-60 win over Concordia in GPAC play on Saturday afternoon in Sioux Center.
Dordt started quickly with a 19-13 lead eight minutes into the game as Ashtyn Veerbeek scored 12 first quarter points. Six unanswered points by the Bulldogs tied the game and Rylee Paulli knocked down a three point shot at the first quarter buzzer for a 22-19 lead. Concordia maintained a lead for the next seven minutes until Macey Nielson knocked own a long three-point shot for a 32-30 lead at the 3:26 mark of the half and a Faith Van Holland basket in the closing moments of the first half gave Dordt a 38-36 halftime lead.
Concordia’s Abby Heemstra tied the score at 38-38 with a basket to open the scoring but two free throws by Hayden Heimensen and an Ashtyn Veerbeek basket put Dordt up for good. A six point run late in the quarter made that four point lead balloon to ten before Concordia got a late bucket to trim the lead back to 51-43 at the quarter break.
Dordt led by as many as 11 in the fourth quarter and never less than six on the way to the nine-point win.
Dordt was 21-53 from the field and 23-34 from the free throw line while Concordia was 22-70 from the field and 11-15 from the free throw line.
Dordt had a 48-39 rebounding edge and committed 15 turnovers and held Concordia to 7 points in the third quarter and 38 points over the final three periods.
Hayden Heimennsen scored 22 points with three assists.
Ashtyn Veerbeek had 20 points and seven rebounds with four blocked shots.
Karly Gustafson snared 21 rebounds with eight points and Nielson and Van Holland each had six points.
Dordt is 6-2 overall and 1-1 in the league while Concordia is 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the league.
Dordt will travel to face Briar Cliff on Tuesday night.
