Minneapolis, MN -- Wednesday, North Central University (NCU) women's basketball returned home to Clark-Danielson Gymnasium for another Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) battle, this time squaring off against the Martin Luther College (MLC) Knights in a contested matchup. This would be the first meeting between these two squads this year. Last season, the Knights took the season series with two victories. Tonight,

North Central opened the night with early energy on both ends, as senior guard Lydia Schroeder knocked down a three-pointer on the Rams' first possession to spark the offense. Senior guard Brycelyn Brewster attacked the paint early, creating scoring chances and drawing fouls, while senior guard Jackie Lindsay controlled the glass defensively. Despite solid looks from the perimeter and strong interior defense, NCU faced early foul trouble and offensive rebounds that led to a slim deficit at 20-14 after ten minutes.

The Rams continued to battle in the second, leaning on Schroeder's hot shooting from deep and Brewster's ability to finish through contact. Sophomore forward Olivia Beach added defensive toughness inside. North Central forced multiple turnovers and converted in transition, trimming the gap midway through the quarter. However, the Rams struggled to sustain momentum offensively, heading into halftime still within striking distance at 35-25.

NCU came out of the locker room with renewed focus, shooting efficiently from beyond the arc. Junior guard NiNi Davenport drilled a key three early, followed shortly by another triple from Schroeder as the Rams briefly swung momentum. Brewster continued to pressure the defense, getting to the free-throw line and contributing on both ends. Senior forward Moriah McLendon anchored the paint, finishing through contact and pulling down rebounds as North Central matched its opponent point-for-point in the quarter. NCU trailed by 10 at 50-40 headed into the fourth quarter.

In the final period, North Central showed resilience, continuing to compete despite fatigue and foul pressure. Lindsay dominated the glass, finishing the night with a team-high and career-high 16 rebounds, while Brewster and McLendon continued to attack inside. Davenport added a late bucket, and the Rams held strong defensively in the closing minutes, forcing tough shots and limiting second-chance opportunities. North Central finished the game shooting 33.3% from three-point range, but just 34.0% from the field overall. The Rams would end up falling 67-51 inside of Clark-Danielson Gymnasium. 

Top Performers:

• Brycelyn Brewster: 14 points and 5 assists
• Lydia Schroeder: 13 points and 4-4 from three
• Jackie Lindsay: 4 points and 16 rebounds
• Moriah McLendon: 9 points and 9 rebounds 

Looking Ahead:

Up next, NCU heads on the road this Saturday, January 31st, to take on the UW-Superior Yellowjackets. Tip-off is set for 3:00 PM inside Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium in Superior, WI.

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