The Dordt University women’s basketball team defeated 14th ranked University of Providence 57-53 to win the program’s first-ever NAIA National Championship on March 26 at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.
The Dordt University women’s basketball team defeated 14th ranked University of Providence 57-53 to win the program’s first-ever NAIA National Championship on March 26 at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.
The Defenders, who spent 11 weeks of the season ranked first in the NAIA Coaches' poll, finished the season with a nine-game win streak and ended with a program-best 35-2 record.
Macy Sievers, a sophomore elementary education major from Storm Lake, Iowa, was named NAIA Women’s National Championship tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP). Sievers averaged 12.6 points, 6.8 assists, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.8 steals each contest this season.
“She’s so unselfish, does such an awesome job getting her teammates involved, and is just a great player,” Women’s Basketball Coach Bill Harmsen told the Sioux City Journal.
Karly Gustafson, a social work graduate student from Ethan, South Dakota, scored 16 points and was given a first-team all-tournament nod. She concluded her final season ranked first all-time in scoring (1,976 points) and rebounding (1,099).
Janie Schoonhoven, a junior health and human performance major from Hospers, Iowa, made 14 points and 11 rebounds. She was named to the all-tournament second team, receiving the tournament Hustle Award.
Bailey Beckman, a senior exercise science and psychology double-major from Stuart, Iowa, closed out her Defender career ranked second in scoring (1,887 points) and first in three-pointers made (228).
Following the national tournament win, Dordt officials surprised the women’s basketball team with a pizza party. Approximately 125 family members, coaches, athletes, faculty, students, and other Dordt supporters joined the women’s basketball team to celebrate.
This is the second national title that the Dordt Defenders have won in the past two years; in November 2022, Dordt University men’s cross country claimed the 67th Annual NAIA Men’s Cross Country National Championship.
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. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by U.S. News and World Report, the Wall Street Journal, Times Higher Education, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review.
The High School Choral Festival Concert will be held on Friday, April 12 at 7 p.m. at Dordt University’s B.J. Haan Auditorium. There will also be a Community Choir Evening of Worship on Thursday, April 11 at 7 p.m. in the B.J. Haan Auditorium.
Gabriel Garcia, a senior actuarial science major from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, would never have guessed that an email he received two years ago would have such a huge impact on his career trajectory.
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