The Dordt Defender women’s basketball team used a 17-0 run in third quarter of its NAIA National Championship semifinal round game and held off a Cumberlands comeback attempt in the fourth quarter for an 83-73 win to advance to the program’s second NAIA title game in three years.
The game didn’t start well for the Defenders as Cumberlands got out to a 13-5 lead and held a 19-10 lead before Macy Sievers’s basket near the end of the period made it 19-12. Cumberlands outscored Dordt 10-3 to start the second quarter and led 29-15 with 6:40 left in the half. A Janie Schoonhoven basket started a 6-0 run and another Schoonhoven basket with 4:56 left in the half started an 8-0 run that eventually allowed Dordt to tie it with back to back baskets by Sievers to end the half for a 33-33 score.
The teams traded baskets to start the second half and stood tied 39-39 with 6:52 left in the half. Sievers converted a basket and Macey Nielson knocked down her first of two three-point shots as part of what turned into a 17-0 run that ended at the 3:29 mark of the period. The lead went all the way to 62-41 with 1:43 left in the period on a Faith Van Holland three-point basket.
Cumberlands negated the momentum and got the difference down to 65-48 when the quarter ended. Cumberlands quickly cut away at the lead and had it to 69-62 with 6:51 left in the game and got within six on two occasions, the last time at the 3:19 mark. Neither team scored for the next two-plus minutes with Cumberlands finally getting a basket with :50 left in the game. Bailey Beckman responded with two made free throws and four made free throws and two defensive stops later Dordt had the 83-73 win.
Dordt was 30-62 from the field and 7-14 from the three-point line while converting 16-22 free throws.
Cumberlands made 30-68 field goals and 3-15 three-point shots while converting 10-11 free throws.
Dordt had a 33-32 rebounding edge.
Dordt Leaders
Bailey Beckman: 28 pts | 5 rebs | 2 assists | 2 blocks
Janie Schoonhoven: 21 pts | 10 rebs
Macy Sievers: 12 pts | 10 assists | 4 rebs
Karly Gustafson: 8 pts | 4 rebs | 3 assists
Macey Nielson: 6 pts
Eliana Kuperus: 5 rebs
Cumberlands Leaders
Kassie Monday: 23 pts | 7 rebs | 9 assists
Kaylie Monday: 16 pts | 4 rebs | 5 steals
Destiny Haworth: 11 pts | 5 assists
Dordt is 34-2 while Cumberlands finishes the year 26-10.
Dordt will face Providence (Montana) on Tuesday night, March 26 at 7pm in the NAIA National Championship game in Sioux City. You will be able to hear the game on Hawk Country 106.9 KIHK, and online at www.siouxcountyradio.com
