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The University of Jamestown will face Dordt University at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, in the GPAC quarterfinals in Sioux Center, Iowa.
After a big second quarter, the No. 7-seeded Jimmies (18-12, 11-11) were unable to sustain it in a 77-73 overtime loss on Feb. 19 to the No. 2-seeded Defenders (23-7, 16-6) in the regular season finale.
After the loss to Dordt, Jimmies head coach Thad Sankey is happy with his team’s effort in the lead up to the rematch.
“I think we’ve responded really well,” Sankey said. “We know what we’re playing for, it’s tournament time. We know the challenge of going on the road and getting a big win. We also have felt the urgency and determination of wanting to get a win. Obviously, we have to put the game together and do it tomorrow when it counts. I’ve liked the toughness that our girls have showed the last couple days and we’re looking forward to putting our best game out there on Wednesday.”
The Jimmies are attempting to get out of the first round of the conference tournament for the first time since the 2017-18 season, when they beat Waldorf in the first round of the NSAA tournament.
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This is the first time that the Jimmies have ended the regular season and started the conference tournament against the same team since the 2009-10 season when they beat Dakota State University in those back-to-back games.
“We feel like it’s a big deal for us,” Sankey said. “It’s fresh, the way the game finished on Saturday with the end of regulation and overtime didn’t sit well with us. We felt like we had the opportunity to be better and we weren’t. I haven’t really thought about it from Dordt’s perspective, but I think for us the quick turnaround is a plus.”
The Jimmies have struggled in foul trouble this season, going 12-9 in games in which they have picked up 15 fouls or more. The Jimmies have also struggled on the road this season, going 6-9.
Heading into this game, the Jimmies' Noelle Josephson said that she and her teammates are ready to leave with a win.
“I think it’s a fact that we are going to come out with a fire under us and be ready to go,” Josephson said.
