Orange City, Iowa – The Northwestern College women’s basketball team went on an 8-2 run to close the game and defeat Dordt University (11-7, 12-9) 64-58 in a conference match-up played Wednesdsay at the Bultman Center.
The Raiders sweep the season series against the Defenders and extend their overall win streak to seven games. They maintain their hold on third place in the current league standings with a 12-5 record, 12-8 overall.
Tied for the final time at 56, Taylor VanderVelde knocked down a three-pointer from the left wing off a pass from Maddie Jones to put Northwestern in front for good with 2:11 left to go. Dordt’s Ashtyn Verbeek scored on a jumper in the lane on the Defenders next possession to get to within one but, following a timeout, Molly Schany converted a floater on a fine pass by Jones to put Northwestern back in front by three (61-58).
The Raiders forced a turnover on the defensive end and VanderVelde drained a pair of free throws to put her team up by two possessions, 63-58, with 15 seconds left. Following another defensive stop, Schany closed out the scoring by making 1-of-2 free throws.
Northwestern buckled down defensively in the final period, limiting the Defenders to just two field goals over the final seven-plus minutes. Rebounding was also a key factor for the victorious Raiders as they held a commanding 43-34 edge on the glass and limited Dordt to just nine caroms on the offensive end.
Schany led Northwestern with 16 points, scoring in double figures for the 14th time this season. VanderVelde netted 12 points, 10 coming in the final half, and Sammy Blum contributed nine points, three rebounds and three assists. Northwestern shot 40% from the field, 29% (4/14) from beyond the arc, and 80% (12/15) from the free throw line.
The teams traded baskets to open the back-and-forth game until Dordt went on the biggest run of the night, scoring 10 straight points to take a 17-8 lead with 24 seconds left in the first quarter. Blum ended the Defender scoring run with a three-pointer to make the score 17-11 at the end of the period. Northwestern trailed by four (31-27) at halftime and the game was tied at 46 by the end of the third quarter, a quarter that featured three ties and six lead changes over the final five minutes.
Ashtyn Verbeek poured in a game-high 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for her 10th double-double of the season. Karly Gustafson added 11 points for the Defenders; the duo scored every point in the fourth quarter for the Defenders.
