Aberdeen, South Dakota — The Defender women’s basketball team traveled to Aberdeen to play Presentation in the opening game of the 2021-22 season. Dordt came away with a road win to start the nonconference schedule.
Presentation opened the game with a six-point lead as Nek Newell gave the Saints a 14-6 lead early on. The Defenders pulled within one near the midway point of the first and ended the opening frame with a three-pointer for Macey Nielson that tied the game at 20 going into the second.
The Defenders took their first lead of the game with 6:40 left in the second as Karly Gustafson made a layup to make the score 26-25. Mya Chmielewski later helped Dordt take a 38-30 lead, and the Defenders went on an 11-2 run to close the half, capped off by a three for Bailey Beckman and a buzzer-beating three from Hayden Heimensen to make the score 45-32 at the break.
The Saints used the third quarter to cut into their deficit to two, but the Defenders then finished the quarter strong to take an 11-point lead going into the final quarter.
Dordt maintained momentum throughout the fourth, with Mya Chmielewski and Bailey Beckman both scoring baskets that pushed the Defender lead to 17 points. The game was sealed later on as Janie Schoonhoven scored a late bucket to help Dordt secure a 75-61 win.
Mya Chmielewski led the Defenders in scoring with 20 points, also totaling six steals
Bailey Beckman added 19 points
Janie Schoonhoven finished with seven rebounds
Dordt shot 42.9% and Presentation shot 52.3%
The Defenders had 36 points in the paint
Dordt led in bench points 18-10
The Defenders play in one week at Grand View. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 PM in Des Moines, Iowa.
