We've got a repeat champion in Sioux City. The Dordt Defenders just went back-to-back, securing their second consecutive NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship with an 82-73 victory over a tough Indiana Wesleyan squad. And let me tell you, this wasn't just luck; this was a statement.
The Defenders, finishing a stellar 35-2 season, controlled the second half of this one. Yeah, Indiana Wesleyan came to play, but Dordt showed why they're the team to beat.
Early on, it was a bit of a tussle. Indiana Wesleyan was throwing punches, but Macy Sievers and Olivia Harazin gave Dordt the edge. Desta Hoogendoorn stretched the lead, but IWU kept it close, 24-21 after the first.
Then, Dordt flipped the switch. Janie Van Donge sparked a 12-point run, and Indiana Wesleyan went ice cold. Sievers hit a buzzer-beater, and boom, 43-29 at the half. That's a championship-caliber run right there.
Van Donge started the third hot, and Dordt stretched the lead to a massive 20 points. Game over, right? Not so fast. Gracie Schoonhoven added a bucket, but IWU went on a 13-0 run, cutting it to 66-57 with seven minutes left. They kept chipping away, getting it to 76-71, then 78-73 with under a minute. But Dordt grabbed a crucial offensive rebound, and Sievers iced it with four free throws. Ball game.
Let's talk about this run. Two straight 35-2 seasons? 100-8 over the last three years? That's not just good; that's legendary.
And the hardware? Janie Van Donge, Gracie Schoonhoven, and Macy Sievers all snagged All-Tournament honors. Van Donge grabbed the Hustle Award again, and Sievers? Player of the Tournament, for the second year running. That's dominance.
Indiana Wesleyan? 34-3. A fantastic season, but they ran into a buzzsaw.
Bottom line: Dordt isn't just a team; they're a program. They've built something special in Sioux City. And with Sievers and Van Donge leading the charge, they're not going anywhere. This is a dynasty in the making, folks.
