Minneapolis, MN -- The North Central University (NCU) women's basketball team returned back to Minneapolis for a conference matchup against the University of Minnesota Morris (UMM) Cougars. Staying at home after a quality win on Saturday, the Rams looked to continue their mid-season momentum inside Clark-Danielson Gymnasium. Despite a strong opening quarter and a late push in the fourth, NCU ultimately fell 62-57.

The Rams weathered an early 5-0 deficit before settling in offensively. Senior guard Brycelyn Brewster jump started the comeback with an aggressive finish inside, while senior guard Lydia Schroeder knocked down a fastbreak three to trim the gap. Moments later, senior forward Moriah McLendon connected from deep, and Brewster followed with another triple to give NCU its first lead of the night. Junior guard NiNi Davenport added a pair of free throws in transition to cap a strong closing stretch. North Central shot an efficient 40% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc in the opening period, finishing the quarter on an 8-0 run to take an 18-13 lead into the second. 

NCU extended its lead early in the second when Schroeder buried her second three-pointer of the night off a feed from graduate guard Kaye Serapio. Brewster continued attacking downhill, earning trips to the line and converting key free throws. Davenport added a strong finish in the paint, and Brewster scored again off an assist from McLendon to keep the Rams in front midway through the quarter. However, despite forcing turnovers and creating transition opportunities, NCU struggled to convert consistently late in the half. The Rams shot just 30.8% in the second quarter while still finding ways to compete defensively and on the glass. Morris scored in the final minute to take a slight edge at 31-29.

The Rams opened the second half aggressively. Davenport knocked down a mid-range jumper and later connected on a three-pointer off an assist from senior guard Jackie Lindsay, cutting into the deficit. McLendon made her presence felt inside, finishing through contact for an and-one opportunity and later scoring on a put-back. Brewster added another tip-in, showcasing her relentless motor on the offensive glass. NCU battled in the paint, finishing the night with 16 points inside while grabbing 14 offensive rebounds as a team. McLendon led the rebounding effort with 13 boards (11 defensive). Despite the effort, the Rams faced a tough third-quarter stretch and entered the final frame trailing 52-41.

North Central showed tremendous fight in the closing period. Davenport drilled a clutch three-pointer early in the quarter, while Brewster consistently attacked the rim and drew fouls. Brewster finished 7-of-10 from the free-throw line and scored 16 points to lead the Rams. Lindsay added a strong drive and finish in the lane, while Serapio calmly knocked down two free throws to bring NCU within two possessions late in the game. The Rams held their opponent to just 2-of-14 shooting (14.3%) in the fourth quarter, outscoring them 16-10 in the final period. NCU forced key turnovers and generated second-chance opportunities, finishing with 11 bench points and 8 fast break points. Freshman guard Ailani Collazo capped the night with a three-pointer in the closing seconds off an assist from Brewster. NCU fell 62-57 to the Cougars. 

Top Performers: 

• Brycelyn Brewster: 16 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals
• NiNi Davenport: 12 points
• Moriah McLendon: 7 points, 13 rebounds and 1 block

Looking Ahead: 

Up next, NCU heads on the road versus Northwestern on Saturday, February 14th. Tip-off for that game is set for 1:00 PM at the Ericksen Center in St. Paul, MN.

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.