Sioux City, Iowa — The Dordt Defenders will face Campbellsville (Kentucky) on Friday, March 18 at 6:00 PM at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa in a NAIA National Championship Round of 16 contest.
Fans are encouraged to wear black for the contest.
Campbellsville has a 31-4 record this season and finished the conference season in the Mid-South with a 17-4 mark which was good for second place in the league to Thomas More’s 19-2 record.
The Tigers have won five games in a row and are 12-1 since February began. The most recent loss was a 68-65 loss to Thomas More. The loss was the second of the season to Thomas More and the other setbacks were to Bethel (Tennessee) and Pikeville. Campbellsville has been involved in eight games this season decided by nine points or less.
Dordt is 26-8 this season and finished the year with a 16-6 GPAC mark and finished second in the GPAC. Dordt’s losses this season and have losses to Grand View, Dakota Wesleyan (twice), Morningside, Briar Cliff, the College of Saint Mary, Northwestern and Midland. Dordt has played in 13 games this season decided by nine points or less. The Defenders are 19-2 since December 18.
Dordt outscores teams 74.2-64.4 and outrebound teams 39.8-34.1. Dordt converts 43.9 percent of its field goals and 31.9 percent of its three-point shots. The Defenders are allowing 38.4 percent of their field goals and surrender 31.9 percent on long shots.
Ashtyn Veerbeek is good for 18.1 points per game and she takes in 9.7 rebounds with 3.2 blocked shots per game. Veerbeek has converted 48.8 percent of her field goals and she has made 27 three-point baskets. Bailey Beckman scores 12.9 points per game and she has made a team high 59 three-point baskets. Karly Gustafson converts for 12.2 points and 7.6 rebounds and she is making 51.8 percent of her field goals while Janie Schoonhoven has an 8.0 points per game average to go with 5.8 rebounds. Hayden Heimense is scoring 7.4 points per game and she has made 40 three-point baskets. Mya Chmielewski is scoring 6.6 points per game and Macey Nielson has made 38 three-point baskets.
Dordt beat IU East (88-52) and Sterling (66-65) this weekend to advance to Sioux City.
Dordt had no real trouble with IU East and led 28-13 after one quarter and 46-25 at halftime. Three Dordt players, Ashtyn Veerbeek, Karly Gustafson and Janie Schoonhoven all had double-doubles for the Defenders and Dordt converted 51 percent of its field goals. Bailey Beckman and Hayden Heimensen had 11 and 10 points each.
Campbellsville earned wins over Rochester (85-72) and Benedictine (74-44) in games played in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
The winner of the Dordt-Campbellsville contest will face the Indiana Wesleyan-Master’s winner on Saturday night at 8:00.
