SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Top-ranked Dordt University opened the second half on a 13-1 run to break open a 3-point game at the break, as the Defenders defeated Oregon Tech, 79-61, inside the Dewitt Center.
 
The defending NAIA champs made 60-percent of their field goals in the second half and finished the night with a 50-34 rebound edge.
 
The Lady Owls (0-2) played toe-to-toe with DU, getting six points in the opening quarter from both Kennedy Tull and Jozie Ramos, with a Tull lay-up giving OIT a 21-14 lead. Tech took their final lead with a minute remaining in the first half at 33-32 following a Kaitlyn Wright bucket, but the Defenders scored the final four points to take the 36-33 lead to the break.
 
From there, Dordt dominated – as 3-pointers from Olivia Harazin and Willow Bleeker, along with post buckets from Janie Van Donge – ballooned the margin early in the third quarter to 49-34.
 
Tatum Schmerbach cut the deficit to single digits with a jumper, pulling the Owls within 56-48, but triples from Brooke Smith and Bleeker started a 9-0 DU run that put the margin out of reach.
 
Tech finished the night making 36-percent of their field goal attempts, including 1-of-13 shooting from 3-point range. Gabbie Gascon had 14 points, six rebounds and four assists, Ramos scored 14 and Schmerbach posted 10 points and six rebounds in the loss.
 
Bleeker led all scorers with 18 points and Macy Sievers scored 15 in the win for Dordt.
 
OIT has next week off to prepare for the Lithia Classic on Nov. 15-16, hosting UC Merced and Cal Maritime.