Jamestown, North Dakota — The Dordt Defender women’s basketball team showed its resiliency with a come from behind road win over the Jamestown Jimmies on Saturday afternoon in Jamestown, North Dakota. The win, coupled with a Northwestern loss to Hastings secured a second place finish for the Defenders in GPAC play.
Dordt had a 16-11 lead near the end of the first quarter but the Jimmies managed to tie the score at 16-16 at the end of the period. The hosts scored a three-point basket and the Defenders a two-pointer to start the second quarter but a 9-0 run ensued for the hosts over the next five minutes and they led 28-18 before a Bailey Beckman basket stopped the bleeding. Ashtyn Veerbeek added a basket for a 28-22 deficit. Another Beckman basket got Dordt within four but the Jimmies closed the half on a buzzer beater by Noelle Josephson for a 34-26 halftime lead.
The lead grew again to 10 when Jamestown scored a basket immediately. The lead was still 41-32 with 4:54 left in the third when Janie Schoonhoven converted a basket. A couple free throws continued to help narrow the difference and Macey Nielson buried a three to get the Defenders within 45-43. Jamestown managed to fight off the comeback and took a five point lead into the fourth quarter at 48-43.
Dordt again got to within one early in the fourth quarter but the lead grew again to 57-49 with 5:25 left in the game. Dordt had just enough time to mount one more rally. Mya Chmielewski converted a three-point basket and Gustafson a free throw for a 57-53 difference. Veerbeek converted another basket to get within 57-55 and it was still 59-57 with 2:09 left. A Dordt defensive stand followed by two Beckman free throws tied the game at 59-59 with 1:56 left. Still, the Defenders were unable to take the lead and Jamestown was in control at 64-61. Dordt had the ball and it was Veerbeek knocking down her first three-point basket of the game for a 64-64 tie with :15 left. Dordt’s work wasn’t done though as they needed a stop on the next possession to force overtime.
Jamestown scored the first point of the overtime but Dordt scored the next eight to lead 72-65 and it as Beckman icing the game with a made free throw with :03 left in overtime to secure the 77-73 win.
Dordt converted on 30-63 field goals and 4-12 three-point shots while making 13-18 free throws.
The hosts made 23-64 field goals and 10-29 three-point shots and 17-19 free throws.
Jamestown had a 38-37 rebounding edge and had 22 turnovers while Dordt had 18.
Bailey Beckman had 21 points with four steals and Ashtyn Veerbeek added 19 points with nine rebounds.
Karly Gustafson scored 16 with five assists and had all but two of her points in the second half. Janie Schoonhoven secured 10 rebounds and had 10 points.
Dordt is 23-7 this season and finish the GPAC 16-6 in the league. Jamestown is 18-12 and 11-11 in the GPAC.
NEXT
The two teams will meet in a quarterfinal round game in GPAC Tournament play on Wednesday night, 23 at 6:00 pm.
