St. Bonifacius, MN -- Entering the first round of the NCCAA National Tournament, the North Central University (NCU) women's basketball team entered a familiar gym to take on #3 Calvary University (CU) Warriors. Entering their third consecutive NCCAA National birth, NCU looked to try and make a push for a tournament win and try to find themselves with a National Title. After a four-quarter battle, the Rams came up just short, falling 71-67.

North Central came out aggressive on both ends of the floor, with junior guard NiNi Davenport opening the scoring with a three-pointer off an assist from senior guard Jackie Lindsay. Davenport quickly found her rhythm from deep, knocking down another jumper while the Rams pushed the pace early. Senior guard Brycelyn Brewster added a strong finish in the paint, and sophomore forward Olivia Beach provided a spark off the bench with a layup to keep the Rams ahead midway through the quarter. Despite the early push, the game remained tightly contested with multiple lead changes. Senior guard Kaye Serapio came up with a key steal in the closing seconds and converted a fast-break layup to pull the Rams within one heading into the second. After one quarter, North Central trailed 17-16.

The Rams continued battling in the second period, responding to an early deficit with perimeter shooting and aggressive defense. Lindsay knocked down a three-pointer to trim the margin before senior forward Moriah McLendon attacked the paint for a jumper to bring the Rams within one possession. Serapio delivered a key stretch midway through the quarter, scoring on a drive and then converting another jumper moments later to give North Central its first lead of the period. Davenport also connected from long range again, finishing the half as the Rams' top offensive option from beyond the arc. North Central held a brief advantage late in the quarter, but the momentum shifted just before halftime. At the break, the Rams trailed 33-29.

The Rams came out of halftime with renewed energy, quickly cutting into the deficit. McLendon opened the scoring with a layup, and Brewster followed with a strong finish inside to keep North Central within striking distance. Senior guard Lydia Schroeder then delivered one of the biggest shots of the quarter, knocking down a three-pointer to pull the Rams within a single point. North Central's defense also began forcing turnovers, with Serapio and McLendon recording steals that led to transition opportunities. McLendon continued to attack the rim late in the quarter, converting a fast-break layup after a steal to cap off a strong stretch for the Rams. Schroeder added two free throws in the closing seconds, keeping the game tight heading into the final period. After three quarters, North Central trailed 51-48.

The Rams continued to push in the final frame as Davenport opened the scoring with another three-pointer to pull North Central within three. Schroeder added another clutch triple moments later, cutting the deficit to just two points and keeping the Rams within striking distance. Despite several strong defensive possessions and a pair of late steals by Brewster and McLendon, the Rams struggled to fully close the gap. Davenport continued to lead the charge offensively, draining another three in transition with under three minutes remaining to cut the margin to five. North Central mounted one final push in the closing minutes. Lindsay converted a put-back layup before Davenport knocked down yet another three-pointer to bring the Rams within three with under three minutes to play. Lindsay added another tip-in in the final two minutes to trim the deficit again, but the Rams were unable to complete the comeback. North Central ultimately fell 71-67.

Top Performers: 

• NiNi Davenport: 20 points and 5 rebounds
• Moriah McLendon: 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 steals
• Lydia Schroeder: 10 points and 5 rebounds

Looking Ahead: 

Up next, North Central will continue play at the NCCAA National Tournament tomorrow, March 13, as the Rams face #2 Pensacola Christian College in St. Bonifacius, MN at the Crown Athletic Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 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.