Sioux Center, Iowa — A late Defenders comeback came up short as No.22 Dordt lost to Dakota Wesleyan 80-75 in an afternoon contest played Saturday at the DeWitt Gym.
Karly Gustafson scored a season-high 19 points, one of four Dordt players to reach double figures. Hayden Heimensen netted 17 points, matching her season-high with three three-point baskets.
Dordt missed just three shots, going 9-for-12 from the field, in a first quarter that ended with the hosts up 21-14.
Dakota Wesleyan scored the first six points of the second quarter on consecutive three-pointers by Aspen Hansen and Matti Reiner to cut the lead to one (21-20), holding Dordt scoreless for nearly three minutes. A three-pointer from Gustafson put her team in front by three (27-24) but the Tigers outscored Dordt 13-3 over the final five minutes for a 37-30 lead at halftime.
A high-scoring, back-and-forth third quarter concluded with the Defenders trailing by nine, 61-52. Both teams shot well, around 50%, for the third period. Dordt made 4-of-6 three-pointers during the quarter, two by Heimensen.
An 8-3 run midway in the fourth quarter put the Defenders down by three, 66-63, after a three-point play from Gustafson with five minutes left. Dordt was unable to get closer, however, as DWU converted eight straight free throws over the final minutes to secure the win.
Dordt shot 44% for the game, 47% (8-for-17) from beyond the arc. Mya Chmielewski (12pts) and Janie Schoonhoven (10pts) were also in double figures. Gustafson grabbed nine rebounds, one shy of a double-double. Chmielewski totaled four assists, matching her career high.
Isabel Ihnen led Dakota Wesleyan with 18 points, one of four players to scored in double figures. DWU shot 41% for the game, 50% (7/14) from the three-point line, nearly 27% better than their season average.
NEXT UP
The Defenders will head to California to play a pair of games next weekend. They will play Westcliff on Saturday, Dec. 18 and La Sierra on Monday, Dec.20.
