Sioux Center, Iowa — Ashytyn Veerbeek scored a game-high 32 points in leading the Dordt University women’s basketball team to its ninth straight win, a 77-50 decision against Midland Saturday afternoon at the DeWitt Gym.
The Defenders improve to 9-5 in the GPAC and move into a three-way tie for third place in the current conference standings. They are 16-6 overall and avenge an earlier loss on the road against Midland.
Veerbeek scored 20 of her 32 points in the first half and added 15 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season. The senior made 12-of-17 field goal attempts and blocked four shots.
Dordt scored the first six points and led from start to finish in earning a season split against Midland. A three-point play by Veerbeek put the Defenders in front 10-4 and they led 21-16 by the end of the first quarter.
A Bailey Beckman three-pointer gave Dordt its first double-digit lead (30-20) early in the second quarter and the hosts led by nine, 40-31, by halftime.
Baskets by Mya Chmielewski, Karly Gustafson and free throws from Veerbeek pushed Dordt’s lead to 15 midway into the third quarter. The Defenders ended any Midland hopes of a rally by outscoring the Warriors 20-7 in the final quarter, limiting the visitors to just four points over the final 9:30.
Dordt shot 48% for the game and limited Midland to 29% shooting for the game. The Defenders held a huge advantage on the glass, outrebounding the Warriors 49-22, including 15 on the offensive end.
Beckman scored 13 points, making good on all three of her three-point attempts. Gustafson added 11 points and six rebounds, scoring in double figures in her fifth straight game.
Peyton Wingert netted 14 points and was the lone Midland player to score in double figures. The Warriors made just five of its 26 three-point attempts. They drop to 4-10 in the conference, 8-13 overall.
The Defenders will be on the road for two games next week, beginning with a Wednesday night showdown against Dakota Wesleyan in Mitchell, S.D.
