Minneapolis, M.N. – First round play opened at the 2026 NCCAA DII Women’s Basketball National Championship, with #9 Emmaus University and #10 Crown College taking home first round victories on Wednesday, March 11.
 
Game One: #9 Emmaus University 74, #8 Providence University College 65

Ninth-seeded Emmaus University had four players record a double-double, as the Eagles knocked off #8 Providence University College 74-65 to move on to the NCCAA DII Women’s Basketball National Championship quarterfinals.

• After both teams struggled early, Emmaus broke through with a 13-1 run halfway through the first quarter, thanks to a nifty pass from Aubry Silva to Rachel Barrett, and a jumper from Marina Keck to put the Eagles ahead 21-6. Faith LaRocque got the Pilots back on track with a tip-in, and Adrian Alley made the first shot from distance for Providence, cutting the deficit to 21-12 after the opening stanza. 
• LaRocque continued to roll in the second quarter, scoring a pair of buckets before a Sydney Last shot cut the Eagle lead to just 21-18. Silva answered with a pair of jumpers for Emmaus, while Erin McKenna added another to put the Eagles up 30-22 halfway through the second period. Another Silva shot pushed Emmaus up by double digits, before an Abigail Nevitt tip-in ended the half with Providence down just 36-30.
• Again, it was LaRocque sparking the offense for the Pilots, draining a three early in the third quarter before a Lily Anderson layup cut the Emmaus lead to 38-37. Nevitt nailed a three to put the Pilots down just two, but Silva connected from beyond the arc for the Eagles, pushing the Emmaus lead to 45-40. Another LaRocque lay-in made it a one-point game, but Emmaus ended the quarter on an 11-2 run, as a slicing pass from Keck to Barrett punctuated the period, putting the Eagles ahead 56-46 after three quarters.
• McKenna helped swell the Emmaus lead early in the third with a shot from distance, before a fastbreak pass from Keck to Silva put the Eagles up 66-57 halfway through the fourth quarter. Quick shots from LaRocque and Nevitt put the Pilots down eight late, but Emmaus would hold Providence off the board for the final minute of play, holding on for the 74-65 victory.
• Four Eagles finished with double-doubles in the win, led by Silva with 27 points and 11 rebounds. Keck finished with 19 points and 17 boards, while also adding five assists. Barrett tallied 15 points and 14 rebounds, while McKenna was seeing double, with 11 points and 11 boards. Despite the loss, LaRocque shined for Providence, scoring 23 points with nine rebounds, three steals, and four blocks.

Game Two: #10 Crown College 58, #7 Manhattan Christian College 56
 
A late three by Avery Youngblood helped #10 Crown College knock off #7 Manhattan Christian College 58-56 in a defensive battle on the first day of the 2026 NCCAA DII Women’s Basketball National Championship.

• The Polars were anything but frigid to open the contest, as layups from Sydney Cotten, Brayli Reimer and Morgan Bednarek put Crown ahead 11-4 halfway through the first quarter. Tahlia Morris got things going for Manhattan Christian with a make from beyond the arc and converted a tricky and-one play at the end of the quarter to cut the Crown lead to 17-10. 
• Morris continued to heat up from distance, opening the second quarter with another make from three, and a converted hoop and harm from Macayla Hines had the Thunder down just 20-16. Brekyn Hanson had the answer from deep for Crown, and a euro step from Reimer put the Polars back up 27-20. Reimer and Cassie Glasgow added another pair of layups to end the first half, but a Mackenzie Lovett jumper put Manhattan Christian down just single digits at the break, with the Polars ahead 34-26 at the half.
• After a deep make from Avery Youngblood put the Polars ahead double digits in the third quarter, Mariah Garcia hit a shot from beyond the arc to get Manhattan Christian back in the game. Kendall Clark added a shot from three to put some distance between the Polars and the Thunder, but a Lovett layup and a Nekayla Williams jumper saw MCC down just 48-42 heading into the final period of play.
• Both sides traded buckets early in the fourth quarter, including triples from Jasmine Holloway and Reimer to make the score 53-49 with 7:33 left in the contest. Morris once again came up big for the Thunder, as a layup tied the game at 53 points apiece and a three-ball with 5:12 left in the game put Manhattan Christian on top 56-53. Youngblood answered once again with ice in her veins for the Polars, draining her fourth make from distance with 4:10 left in the game to give Crown the 58-56 lead. Neither team would score in the final four minutes of the contest, as two shots from Elayna Wagner just rimmed out for the Thunder, and Crown held on for the 58-56 victory.
• Reimer led the Polars with 16 points and 10 rebounds, adding five assists and two steals as well to her tally. Her teammate Bednarek finished with seven points and 11 rebounds along with four assists, while Cotton added seven points as well with 13 rebounds and three assists. Lovett scored 15 points and hauled down 10 boards for the Thunder in the loss.

Crown College and Emmaus University move on to the Quarterfinals, while Providence University College and Manhattan Christian College will face off in a consolation contest tomorrow, March 12, at 12:00 PM CT. Quarterfinal action begins from the Crown College Athletic Center at 2:00 PM CT. For game times, live stats, box scores, and more info on the 2026 NCCAA DII Women’s Basketball National Championship click here. 
 
About the NCCAA
Established in 1968, the National Christian College Athletic Association uses intercollegiate athletics to further the Great Commission and is committed to equipping student-athletes and coaches to make a positive impact for Christ. The NCCAA currently holds 23 national championship events, along with one national invitational for 88 member schools across 28 states and two Canadian provinces. For more information on the NCCAA, visit our website, thenccaa.org, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter/X, and Instagram at @thenccaa.