Defenders women's basketball win GPAC regular season title

Dordt University women's basketball team clinched its second consecutive Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) regular season title with a 73-55 home win over the University of Jamestown (N.D.) in a conference match-up played tonight at the De Witt Gymnasium.

Macy Sievers was a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc en route to a game-high 20 points while Karly Gustafson (13 points) and Janie Schoonhoven (12 points) also in scored in double figures for the Defenders.

Defensively, Dordt held Jamestown to well-below their scoring average and to its lowest field goal percentage of the season (29%). They limited the Jimmies leading scorer, Kate Cordes, to four points and to without a made three-pointer for just the second time this season.

The Defenders, who won last year's GPAC title with a 20-2 record, improved their record this season to 19-0 in the GPAC, 24-1 overall, with three games left in the regular season. Dordt pushed its win streak to 12 games and they will host No.7 Concordia (Neb.) on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 2pm.

Dordt began the game with an 8-2 run, keyed by consecutive baskets from Janie Schoonhoven and a jumper by Sievers. Jamestown rallied, however, and cut the lead down to two (16-14) with around a minute to go in the opening quarter until a bucket from Gustafson put the Defenders in front 18-14 at quarters end.

Leading by two (18-16), Dordt went on its best run of the first half, outscoring Jamestown 11-2 over a four-plus minute stretch to take a 29-18 lead after a three-pointer by Sievers with 5:00 minutes left in the quarter. Defense fueled the run for Head Coach Bill Harmsen's squad as they limited Jamestown to one field goal for the first 6-plus minutes of the quarter.

Jamestown clawed its way back to six (31-25) by halftime, using an 8-2 advantage in made free throws over the first 20 minutes to keep the game close.

Dordt put the game away in the third quarter, outscoring Jamestown 23-10 and limiting the Jimmies to 3/20 from the field (15%). The Defenders went on a 15-4 run midway into the quarter, finished off with a Sievers three-pointer and a Gracie Schoonhoven drive to the basket.

The Defenders led by as much as 26 in the fourth quarter following a three-pointer by Macey Nielson with five minutes remaining.

Audrey Rodakowski led Jamestown with 12 points, one of three players to score in double figures for the Jimmes. Kia Tower contributed 11 points and Samantha Paulsen scored 10. Jamestown drops to 11-8 (GPAC), 15-10 overall.

For more information, visit godordt.com.

About Dordt University

As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Dordt, located in Sioux Center, Iowa, is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by U.S. News and World Report, Forbes.com, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review.