Ankeny, IA -- This afternoon, the North Central University (NCU) women's basketball team faced the Crown College (CC) Polars in the NCCAA DII North Regional Championship. In the last meeting between these two teams in the 2025 regular season, the Polars defeated the Rams, 63-54. Today, North Central would defeat Crown with a score of 79-47 to win its third straight region championship title. Kaitlyn VanderPloeg and Brycelyn Brewster combined for 42 points to lead the Rams. 

The first quarter saw NCU jump out to an early lead with crisp ball movement and high-percentage shots. Junior Brycelyn Brewster opened the scoring with a layup, quickly followed by a jumper from guard Jackie Lindsay. Senior Kaitlyn VanderPloeg showcased her offensive skillset with a pair of baskets, while McKenzie Latzke added a three-pointer to push the lead to double digits. By the end of the first quarter, the Rams held a commanding 26-14 advantage.

Crown attempted to fight back in the second quarter, but North Central's defense remained firm, forcing 8 turnovers and contesting every shot. Brewster continued to orchestrate the offense, facilitating scoring opportunities for her teammates. VanderPloeg knocked down another three-pointer, and junior Lydia Schroeder provided a spark off the bench with a deep shot of her own. Despite a slight dip in shooting efficiency, the Rams maintained their lead, entering halftime up 42-28.

Coming out of the locker room, North Central left no doubt about the outcome. Brycelyn Brewster was electric, scoring inside and drawing fouls to keep the pressure on Crown's defense. Kaitlyn VanderPloeg continued to be a force on the boards, securing rebounds and converting second-chance opportunities. The Rams' defensive intensity increased, leading to 9 turnovers and fast-break points. A strong close to the quarter saw North Central extend their lead to 61-38, as the game slipped out of reach for Crown.

With victory in sight, the Rams didn't let up. VanderPloeg and Brewster combined for key buckets early in the quarter, and the team's depth shined as Magdalena Daukaus and Savi Rael added to the scoring column. North Central's defense suffocated Crown's offense, allowing only nine points in the final frame. By the final buzzer, the Rams had secured a dominant 79-47 victory, their largest lead of the game coming in the final minute at 33 points.

Top Performers:

• Brycelyn Brewster: 21 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals
• Kaitlyn VanderPloeg: 21 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block
• Lydia Schroeder: 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals
• McKenzie Latzke: 10 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal

Looking Ahead:

Up next, the Rams return home to DowntownU to host the NCCAA DII National Tournament from March 13th-15th. Their first game of the tournament will be on Thursday as they take on #2 ranked Champion Christian College at 5:00 PM. 

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.