St. Bonifacius, MN -- After a hard-fought 71-67 loss to #3 Calvary University in yesterday's opening round of the NCCAA National Tournament, the North Central University (NCU) women's basketball team returned to the court for their final matchup of the tournament against the #2 Pensacola Christian College (PCC) Eagles. Playing inside the Crown Athletic Center, the Rams looked to bounce back and close out their national tournament appearance on a strong note. After falling behind early, NCU responded with a strong second-quarter run that erased a double-digit deficit and brought the Rams within one point at halftime. The game remained tightly contested throughout the second half with multiple lead changes, but a late run in the final minutes resulted in a narrow 78-72 final.
North Central opened the game aggressively on the defensive end, forcing early turnovers and generating several offensive rebounds. Senior guard Brycelyn Brewster sparked the Rams early with a pair of free throws and later added a transition layup, while sophomore forward Olivia Beach chipped in with a second-chance basket in the paint. Despite creating extra possessions with six offensive rebounds in the quarter, the Rams struggled to find consistent shooting rhythm, finishing just 3-of-18 from the field in the opening period. Pensacola capitalized on perimeter shooting late in the quarter to build a significant separation at 22-8 as the Rams trailed after one.
The Rams responded with one of their strongest stretches of the tournament in the second quarter. Brewster ignited the rally with a perfect 3-for-3 shooting stretch, including a three-pointer, while junior guard NiNi Davenport knocked down a deep three of her own to help spark the comeback. Senior forward Moriah McLendon contributed with key interior scoring and a put-back basket, and graduate student Kaye Serapio delivered a big boost off the bench by going a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. North Central shot over 42% in the quarter and a flawless 9-of-9 at the free throw line, steadily chipping away at the deficit. Brewster capped the quarter with a clutch three-pointer in the final seconds to bring the Rams within one heading into halftime, down 32-31.
Coming out of the break, North Central carried its momentum into the third quarter. Brewster drilled a three-pointer early to give the Rams their first lead of the game before senior guard Lydia Schroeder added a jumper and later connected from beyond the arc. McLendon continued to battle inside, scoring on a layup and adding free throws following a defensive steal that led to transition opportunities. Senior guard Jackie Lindsay also knocked down a three-pointer to tie the game midway through the quarter. Despite the Rams shooting over 41% in the frame and briefly holding the lead, the Eagles answered with timely perimeter shots late in the quarter to reclaim a slim advantage at 55-52.
The final quarter featured a tightly contested back-and-forth battle as both teams traded momentum. Davenport caught fire from beyond the arc, knocking down three fourth-quarter three-pointers, including one that gave North Central a late three-point advantage. McLendon added a jumper and later converted a late layup to keep the Rams within striking distance. Brewster continued to contribute across the stat sheet, converting key free throws and facilitating the offense with multiple assists. The Rams held a narrow lead with just over three minutes remaining, but a late scoring run and free throws down the stretch allowed the opponent to regain control in the closing minute. North Central fought until the final possession but ultimately fell in the tightly contested contest, ending their season.
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With the conclusion of today's contest, the North Central University women's basketball team wraps up its 2025–2026 season. The Rams close out the year after making their third consecutive appearance in the NCCAA National Tournament, finishing another competitive season of Rams basketball.
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.
