Minneapolis, MN -- This evening, the women's basketball team from North Central University (NCU) continued NCCAA Tournament play with a semifinal matchup against #3 ranked Ozark Christian College (OCC) Ambassadors. The last time the Rams faced the Ambassadors was in the same championship tournaments in the 2022-23 season, where they took the victory over Ozark with a final score of 71-48. Tonight, NCU would fall to Ozark with a score of 55-51, ending their run at a NCCAA Championship Title.
North Central jumped out to an early lead, led by
Kaitlyn VanderPloeg making her presence felt in the paint, grabbing 4 first-quarter rebounds and altering multiple shots defensively. On the perimeter,
Alaysia Rusch got NCU on the board with an early three-pointer, while
Brycelyn Brewster started attacking the rim, drawing fouls to keep the Rams ahead. NCU led 24-14 after a strong offensive showing in the first quarter.
Ozark Christian turned up the defensive pressure in the second quarter, forcing North Central into difficult shots and holding the Rams to just 10 points in the period. VanderPloeg continued to be a force inside, grabbing 7 total rebounds by halftime, while Brewster and Rusch continued to push the pace in transition.
Lydia Schroeder and
Piper Flemming provided key minutes off the bench, helping NCU control the tempo and keep the deficit manageable heading into halftime. North Central was able to hold Ozark to just 15.9% from the field in the quarter and limited them to just 9 points. The Rams led 34-23 heading into the break.
Ozark made its move in the third quarter, cutting into North Central's lead with a dominant 18-point frame. At the free-throw line, the Ambassadors capitalized on their opportunities, shooting an impressive 90% (9-10) in the third quarter, helping them inch closer to a lead. For the Rams,
Kaitlyn VanderPloeg and
Brycelyn Brewster led the charge, combining for 10 points in the quarter, while
McKenzie Latzke knocked down a clutch three-pointer to keep NCU ahead late. By the time the buzzer sounded, Ozark had nearly erased the deficit, as North Central held on to a 44-41 lead heading into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter is when the Rams started to feel the game slipping away. After an NCU turnover, Ozark took its first lead of the night at 50-48 with a little over 6 minutes to go. Down the stretch, the Rams struggled to score as a jumper from
Savi Rael and
Brycelyn Brewster would be the only three points scored from that point on. Meanwhile, the Ambassadors continued the defensive pressure and pushed the ball in transition. VanderPloeg finished with a game-high 13 rebounds and 4 blocks. Despite a late push from North Central, Ozark sealed the game at the free-throw line, winning 55-51 in regulation.
Top Performers:
Looking Ahead:
Up next, North Central will play for 3rd place in the championship tournament against the #1 ranked Pensacola Christian College Eagles tomorrow at 4:15 PM.
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