Point Lookout, MO – Top-seeded College of the Ozarks would win their second consecutive NCCAA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship and third in the last four years after defending their home court with a 73-64 victory over (2) Bethel University. See all 2026 NCCAA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship results here.
 
Logan Jones from College of the Ozarks earned the 2026 Division I Women’s Basketball Most Outstanding Player. To see the full list of All-Tournament award winners and other 2026 honorees, visit the link here.

Championship: #1 College of the Ozarks - 73 #2 Bethel University - 64

• Logan Jones got the home College of the Ozarks crowd rocking early with a three in the opening minutes to give the Bobcats the first five points of the contest in a battle of the two top seeds in the NCCAA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship. 
• After the three, the two sides would trade opportunities in the post. Bethel would see Jazmyn Smith score the first four points for the Pilots, while the Bobcats saw Keara Mattingley score a pair in the post to bring the score to 10-6. 
• Ashlen Garrett would hit a floater in the final seconds of the first quarter to give Ozarks the 15-11 lead at the end of the period. 
• Ashlen Garrett would add a three with 8:12 remaining in the second quarter to force Bethel into their first timeout with the score 18-11. 
• The second quarter proved to be a game of runs. Ozarks started with a 9-0 run to go on top 25-11. Bethel responded with an 11-0 run that saw a three from Olivia Nickerson and Isabella Nooe to instantly cut it back to a three-point game. The Bobcats would end the half on an 8-2 run to go into the locker room up 34-26. Both sides ended the half just under 40% shooting with Ozarks significantly winning the turnover battle at 11-4. 
• To open the third quarter, Bethel would score four quick points to cut the deficit in half. Logan Jones once again was the great equalizer for Ozarks hitting a big three to bring the lead to 37-30. 
• Bethel refused to quit, continuing to inch closer toward the end of the third quarter. A pair of Isabel Scales free throws would cut the deficit to one possession at 43-40 with 4:11 to play in the third. 
• The two sides would combine to go 22-24 in the third quarter from the free throw line as the physicality increased. Bethel’s Olivia Nickerson would hit a three for Bethel at the third quarter buzzer, tying the game. The game would sit tied for the first time since the opening tip, 51-51. 
• Mariah Claywell hit a jumper for the Pilots to open the fourth quarter, giving Bethel their first lead of the game, 53-51. 
• The two sides would trade buckets for the next three minutes with Bethel calling a timeout with 5:50 to play up 59-57. 
• The Ozarks duo of Ashlen Garrett and Savannah Ketchum would power Ozarks to an 8-0 run in crunch time of the fourth quarter to take the lead back once more. Bethel would call timeout after a Ketchum bucket inside with the Bobcats leading 65-59. 
• Bethel would not be able to overcome the late Ozarks run, as the Logan Jones and the Bobcats would hit their free throws down the stretch to secure the 73-64 victory. Ozarks would earn their third NCCAA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship in the last four years, winning back-to-back titles on their home floor.  

3^rd Place Game: #5 Cedarville University - 65 #3 Sterling College - 63

• Cedarville opened the third-place game with some outstanding defense and some success behind the three-point line. Chloe Downing and Ella Sellars each hit a three in the three minutes of the contest, while the defense held Sterling scoreless for the first three and a half minutes of play. 
• The Yellow Jackets would force seven first quarter turnovers as the defense continued to stifle Sterling. Cedarville would hold a 17-12 lead after the first 10 minutes after Sterling’s Gracie Oard added a three at the first quarter buzzer. 
• Turnovers continued to cost Sterling in the second quarter as the Yellow Jackets found success on the defensive end. Chloe Downing would power Cedarville on the offensive end with three first half three-pointers to increase the Yellow Jackets lead to 37-20 at the break.  
• The Sterling defense would highlight the start of the third quarter, holding Cedarville scoreless the first four minutes of the period. The Warriors would go on an 8-0 run in that stretch to cut the deficit to nine, 37-28. 
• Harmony Laker hit a huge three for Cedarville to break the scoring drought and put the Yellow Jackets back in front by double-digits, 40-28. 
• Sterling would continue to chip away at the deficit, cutting it to as low as four. Cedarville would score six late third quarter points though to lead 46-39 going into the final 10 minutes.
• In the fourth quarter, Cedarville would get back to creating turnovers. Ella Sellars recorded a crucial steal and layup to put the Yellow Jackets in front 52-42. Cedarville would not relinquish the lead from start to finish despite the multiple comeback efforts from the Warriors that would cut it to as low as a one possession game down the stretch. Cedarville would hold on to take third place at the NCCAA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship with a 65-63 victory.  

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.