Playing their fourth game in four days, #10 Crown College completed their magical postseason run, upsetting #1 Champion Christian College 61-53 to win their first NCCAA DII Women’s Basketball National Championship in school history.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Both teams struggled to score early, but Jordan Hammons sparked a run for Champion Christian, scoring eight straight points for the Tigers and answering a pair of Morgan Bednarek layups to put Crown ahead 8-5. Brayli Reimer answered with a pair of layups and a shot from distance to put Crown on top 11-10,  before a Lauren Castillo three and yet another shot from Hammons put the Tigers on top 13-12 at the end of the first quarter.
• Olvia Sepulvado got going from deep, hitting a triple to put Champion Christian up 18-15, but  Kendall Clark answered with one of her own to tie the contest at 18. Reimer continued to roll for the Polars, nailing back-to-back makes from deep to put Crown up 24-20. Sydney Cotton nailed a pair of jumpers to end the half, the last coming off a laser pass from Reimer, and the Polars took a 32-27 lead into the break.
• Sepulvado continued her hot streak to open the second half, scoring the first five points for the Tigers before a Tetona Woods three cut the Crown advantage to 36-35. A layup from Jaylen Edmonson gave Champion the one point lead briefly, but a pair of triples from Cassie Glasgow and Cotton put Crown back on top, and a buzzer beating layup from Reimer put the Polars on top 47-38 at the end of the third.
• Cotton kept the scoring up for the Polars, and the Crown lead swelled to 55-42 halfway through the fourth quarter. Hammons willed the Tigers back into the game, and an Edmonson three had Champion Christian down just six points late in the fourth quarter. Reimer again came up clutch for Crown, nailing a layup and a free throw with under a minute left, and Crown College completed the improbable run, knocking off Champion Christian College 61-53. 
• Reimer again led the way for Crown, flirting with a triple-double, scoring 20 points while hauling down nine boards and handing out six assists.  Bednarek tallied another double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Cotton scored 18 and had six rebounds.

Brayli Reimer from Crown College was named the Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. For a full list of award winners and All-Tournament Team, 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.