Minneapolis, MN -- The North Central University (NCU) women's basketball team continued its non-conference stretch at home with a game versus the Greenville University (GU) Panthers. Coming off a home win over the weekend, the Rams looked to continue this success into today's matchup. This afternoon, North Central leaned on balanced scoring, timely three-point shooting, and clutch free throws late to secure its sixth win of the season, defeating Greenville 69-62 at home.
North Central set the tone early with strong ball movement and perimeter shooting. Senior guard
Brycelyn Brewster opened the scoring from beyond the arc, while junior guard
NiNi Davenport followed with a three of her own as the Rams jumped out to an early lead. NCU shot 47.4% from the field in the opening frame and knocked down four three-pointers, helping them build momentum on both ends of the floor. Freshman forward
Keiley Mahseet provided an early spark off the bench with finishes inside, as the Rams closed the quarter up 22-17.
The Rams weathered a slower offensive stretch in the second but continued to find timely baskets. Senior guard
Jackie Lindsay connected on a pair of triples to keep NCU in control, while Mahseet continued to make an impact in the paint. Despite shooting just 31.6% in the quarter, North Central limited second-chance opportunities and forced turnovers that led to transition chances. The Rams maintained their edge heading into halftime, taking a 37-31 lead into the break.
North Central came out of halftime with renewed energy, matching its best offensive quarter of the game. Brewster and Davenport combined for multiple three-pointers, stretching the defense and opening driving lanes. Lindsay added a midrange jumper and another three, while Mahseet finished through contact to keep pressure on the interior. NCU shot an efficient 50.0% from the field in the quarter and pushed its lead to as many as 12, ending the third period ahead 58-52.
The final quarter turned into a grind, but the Rams showed poise late. While shots were harder to come by from the field, North Central capitalized at the free-throw line, going a perfect 8-for-8 in the fourth. Mahseet and Brewster each stepped to the stripe in key moments, and senior forward
Moriah McLendon sealed the win with a late three-pointer. NCU's defense forced critical turnovers down the stretch, allowing the Rams to close out the 69-64 victory. North Central finished the game with four players in double figures and strong contributions across the stat sheet. The Rams totaled 11 three-pointers, forced 12 turnovers, and outscored their opponent 20-18 in bench points, continuing a trend of balanced production.
Top Performers:
Looking Ahead:
Up next, NCU heads back on the road for an MIAC matchup versus St.Olaf College on Wednesday, December 17th. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 PM at the Bob Gelle Court at Skoglund Center.
All fans are encouraged to tune into the official Rams
Instagram,
Facebook, and
Twitter (X) pages for updates on women's basketball and all things NCU Athletics.
