How Sweet It Is! Defenders Advance With Dominating Performance

Sioux City, Iowa — A late run in the first half gave Dordt a double digit lead and a dominating third quarter put the game out of reach as Dordt downed Campbellsville in a Round of 16 game at the NAIA Women’s Basketball National Championship in Sioux City, Iowa on Friday night, March 18.

The Defenders never trailed as they built a 12-2 lead midway through the first quarter. A Tiger timeout stopped the run and the Defenders led 18-13 at the end of the first quarter. Dordt was up 25-20 with 4:06 left in the first half when Hayden Heimensen started a 9-0 run with a basket. Karly Gustafson followed with a field goal and Faith Van Holland gave Dordt its first double-digit lead with a three-pointer from the corner. Ashtyn Veerbeek ended the run with a basket and the Defenders were up 38-22 at halftime.

The two teams exchanged three-point shots to open the second half but the Tigers were only able to muster a free throw over the rest of the third period as the Defenders put the game out of reach with a 21-4 advantage. The Defenders outscored the Tigers 41-13 in the second and third quarters combined and the game was never closer than 29 in the final period as Dordt advanced to the quarterfinals with the 35-point win.

THE NUMBERS
Dordt was 33-61 from the field for 54 percent and made 4-11 three-point shots.

Campbellsville was limited to 14-58 from the floor for 24 percent and converted 3-18 three-point shots.

Dordt had a 46-29 rebounding advantage.

Ashtyn Veerbeek and Karly Gustafson had 16 points each and Veerbeek had 12 rebounds, two assists and four blocked shots. Gustafson had 10 rebounds and three assists.

Bailey Beckman scored 12 with two assists and Mya Chmielewski added 12 points.

Hayden Hiemensen handed out seven assist with seven points and three steals and Janie Schoonhoven and Faith Van Holland each had six points. Schoonhoven latched on to eight rebounds and she had two steals.

Dordt will face The Master’s at 8:00 pm on Saturday, March 19 in the quarterfinals of the championship bracket.

W🏀

Bailey Beckman and @dordtdefenders are going to the quarterfinals for the first time!#PlayNAIA #collegebasketball #NAIAWBB @GPACSports pic.twitter.com/PhL3z2ywcq

— NAIA (@NAIA) March 19, 2022