Morris, MN -- The North Central University (NCU) women's basketball team hit the road Wednesday night for the "UMAC Game of the Week" against the University of Minnesota Morris (UMM) Cougars at Jim Gremmels Court. Riding the momentum of a recent win, the Rams leaned on balanced scoring, defensive pressure, and clutch execution down the stretch to secure an 88-82 overtime victory.

North Central set the tone early with defensive activity and efficient offense. Graduate guard Kaye Serapio opened the scoring with a strong finish inside, and the Rams quickly built momentum behind senior forward Moriah McLendon, who scored 7 points in the opening frame. North Central forced turnovers and converted in transition, highlighted by a late-quarter three from senior guard Jackie Lindsay and a pair of free throws from junior guard NiNi Davenport to extend the lead to 19-11.

The Rams continued to attack the paint and the offensive glass in the second quarter. Senior guard Lydia Schroeder made her presence felt, scoring inside and getting to the free-throw line, while Davenport knocked down a key three to help NCU regain momentum during a back-and-forth stretch. Despite the Cougars trimming the margin late, North Central closed the half strong with transition baskets and defensive stops to hang on to a narrow 30-27 advantage. 

Out of the break, the contest tightened as both teams traded baskets. Lindsay and Schroeder helped steady the Rams offensively, while Serapio continued to impact the game on both ends with assists, rebounds, and steals. NCU answered each run with timely scoring, including multiple threes from Davenport, keeping the game within one possession, trailing 50-47 entering the fourth.

The fourth quarter featured several lead changes as NCU relied on toughness and composure. Schroeder was instrumental at the free-throw line, and McLendon provided key interior buckets and defensive stops. With under a minute remaining, Schroeder knocked down free throws to give the Rams a slim edge before Morris finished down low to take a 70-69 lead with 50 minutes to go. After a timeout, Serapio earned her way to the charity stripe, where she made 1-of-2 free throws to tie the game in the final seconds, sending the contest to overtime.

North Central dominated the extra period with execution and poise. McLendon kicked off overtime with a jumper in the paint, followed by a clutch three-pointer from Schroeder. Serapio and McLendon continued to combine for timely finishes inside. Schroeder sealed the 88-82 win at the line in the final seconds as the Rams shot efficiently and outscored the opponent 18-12 in overtime to pull away.

Top Performers: 

NiNi Davenport: 21 points, 5 three-pointers, and 2 steals
Lydia Schroeder: 21 points, 11-for-13 FT, and 4 rebounds
Moriah McLendon: 18 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists
Kaye Serapio: 12 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 assists

Looking Ahead: 

Up next, NCU stays on the road to take on Crown College on Saturday, January 17th. Tip-off is set for 1:00 PM as the Rams look to continue their strong start to conference play.

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.