#1 Dordt Snaps Hastings' 10-Game Win Streak
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Hastings (23-7) | 22 | 16 | 14 | 21 | 73 |
|
Dordt (IA) (28-2) | 20 | 23 | 21 | 16 | 80 |
(Sioux Center, IA) – After an undefeated 8-0 month of February, #1 Dordt avenged their loss from exactly one month ago, defeating #18 Hastings, 80-73, in the GPAC Tournament Semifinal.
It was Hastings that got the momentum early by going up 11-3 less than three minutes in, with seven points from sophomore Tathis Arredondo and two points from juniors Macy Bryant and Mariyah Avila. Dordt managed to rally back to 13-10 at the midway point of the quarter.
Freshman Ann Bose drew a foul and sank two at the line and senior Alyssa Baker's three made it an eight-point lead. From there, Dordt went on a 10-0 run to take a 20-18 lead. Avila and sophomore Rachel Goodon both scored before the quarter ended to put Hastings ahead, 22-20, going to the second.
Goodon, Baker, and Bose each scored from inside the arc to build the lead to three at 28-23, then after Dordt tied it at 30, Bose put Hastings ahead at the line, 32-30 with 5:19 left in the half. The Defenders responded with a quick 5-0 spurt to go up three, but Arrendondo put a stop to that with a deep ball at the 2:16 mark. Trailing 39-38, Bose converted a three-point play, though Dordt did go into the break with a 43-38 lead.
Hastings shot 42 percent from the field in the first half, while Dordt was at 55 percent. The Broncos managed to turn Dordt over 12 times in the half. Bose had nine points, while Arredondo had seven at the break to lead the way.
Dordt scored the first four points of the quarter, as Arredondo made one of two from the stripe to make it 47-39, but the Defenders stretched the lead to 11 at 52-41 at the 5:53 mark. Bose responded with a three, and after a Dordt layup, Bose slashed in another three and sophomore Bailey Kissinger drilled a jumper to get back within five with 3:37 left in the third.
Freshman Jentri Marx stole the ball on the next possession out of the timeout, leading to a Kissinger free throw to bring the score to 54-50 with three minutes to go in the third. Dordt finished the quarter strong by outscoring Hastings 10-2 over that span to go up 64-52.
Avila started the fourth with a layup, but Dordt pushed the lead out to as much as 15 and led by double digits until the 4:32 mark when Bryant scored off the feed from Arredondo. With Dordt leading 71-60 with 3:43 left, Hastings made a run.
Kissinger put in two at the line and Bose got a steal and layup to make it 71-64 with 2:04 remaining. After a Dordt turnover, Paulk got fouled and made two at the line. The Defenders went up seven after a Hastings foul with 1:18 left, then a Bryant jumper brought it back to five. Hastings forced a turnover and after multiple scoring chances, Bryant scored and drew the foul, cutting the lead to two after the free throw with 43 seconds left.
Dordt split a pair of free throws and Kissinger got all the way to the rim, scoring and getting fouled on the play. She missed the free throw, however, as Dordt clung to a 74-73 lead with 29 seconds remaining. The Defenders made both at the line upon getting fouled to go up three. Kissinger's runner was a bit strong and Dordt got the rebound. They went up five at the line and Hastings turned it over on their next possession, as Dordt held on to win, 80-73.
Dordt shot 48 percent for the game, holding Hastings to 40 percent. Dordt also hit 10 threes at a 56 percent clip compared to the Broncos' six threes at 35 percent. Hastings won the rebounding battle and forced more turnovers, but it was Dordt that walked away with the win.
Bose had 20 points and two steals off the bench to lead Hastings, while Arredondo had 11 points and three rebounds. Bryant added nine points and three rebounds. Kissinger contributed nine points and six rebounds, while Goodon had eight points, three blocks, and three rebounds.
Hastings, currently 23-7 overall and 17-5 in conference, will now await the announcement from the NAIA for their opening round games of the NAIA National Tournament. The selection show will begin on Mar. 6 at 6pm, with opening round games on Mar. 14-15.
