Storm Lake, IA -- North Central University (NCU) Women's Basketball kicked off the 2025-26 season in dominant fashion Friday night, defeating Faith Baptist Bible College 75–54 to open play at the Central Bank Classic hosted by Buena Vista University. The Rams extended their winning streak over the Eagles to 21 games, a series stretch that dates all the way back to 2010.
North Central came out energized on both ends, applying early defensive pressure and forcing several turnovers to set the tone. Senior guard
Moriah McLendon opened the scoring with a layup off a steal from senior guard
Jackie Lindsay, followed by a pair of strong drives from senior guard
Brycelyn Brewster to push the Rams ahead. Midway through the frame, sophomore guard
Grace King drilled a three-pointer to extend the lead to 12-6. The Rams closed the quarter strong with another triple from senior guard
Lydia Schroeder just before the buzzer, giving NCU a 21-12 advantage after one.
The Rams' momentum only grew in the second quarter as they overwhelmed Faith Baptist with efficient ball movement and aggressive rebounding. Schroeder and McLendon each converted early buckets to extend the margin to double digits. Brewster remained relentless in transition, drawing fouls and converting at the line to spark a 10-2 run. NCU's defense continued to smother the Eagles, holding them to just 8 points in the period. A late corner three by freshman forward
Keiley Mahseet and a layup from Schroeder gave North Central a commanding 42-20 lead heading into halftime.
Faith Baptist opened the half with a small surge, but the Rams' veteran lineup quickly reestablished control. Brewster sliced through the lane for back-to-back scores, while junior guard
NiNi Davenport connected on a pair of threes to keep the offense rolling. McLendon dominated the glass, recording multiple putbacks on her way to an 11-point, 7-rebound performance. NCU shot 43 percent in the quarter and maintained their 20-point cushion with a 62-40 advantage after three frames.
In the final period, North Central's depth shined as the bench closed things out efficiently. Davenport buried her third triple of the night to push the Rams ahead by 25, and late contributions from freshman guard
Ailani Collazo and sophomore forward
Olivia Beach helped seal the win. Beach connected on her lone attempt from deep, and freshman guard
Daymonie Jackson made her collegiate debut with a defensive block and assist in the closing minutes. The Rams cruised through the final stretch to secure a convincing 75-54 season-opening victory.
Top Performers:
Looking Ahead:
Tomorrow, North Central will continue on the road with game two of the Central Bank Classic. The Rams are set to face Benedictine University (IL) on Saturday, November 8th at 4:00 PM.
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