Lady Pioneers' season ends with opening round loss

March 12, 2021

by Dustin Semore, Sports Information Director

WICHITA, Kan. - In his first season at the helm of the Lady Pioneers, Brad Phillips led his team to the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship opening round. In their first-ever appearance in the big dance, the Lady 'Neers fell to the Lady Cougars of Saint Xavier (Ill.) University 105-51.

The Lady Pioneer (8-10) forwards got things started for CRC, with Nakeeva Brandon and Kianna Hardaway putting their team up early. That lead would be short-lived as the Lady Cougars jumped ahead thanks to a 6-0 run. CRC coughed up 14 turnovers in the opening ten minutes, ten of which were pure steals from SXU as CRC trailed 29-13.

Crowley's Ridge shot well in the second quarter, connecting on six of an attempted 15 shots from the floor; however, Saint Xavier (17-3) outrebounded CRC 15-7. The Lady Cougars separated at the half to lead 53-26 at the break.

The Lady 'Neers came out of the locker rooms with their best quarter of the game, bucketing 19 points. Unfortunately, SXU also recorded their best quarter with 32 points. Octavia Lowery and Mickayla Smith led the charge in the penultimate quarter by hitting down three of five 3pt FGs. With ten minutes remaining, Crowley's Ridge trailed 85-45

With their collective feet on the gas, Saint Xavier erased any hope of a Crowley's Ridge comeback with a 20-6 fourth quarter to close the book of the 2020-21 season for the Lady Pioneers 105-51. In the last frame, SXU outrebounded CRC 22-7.

The Lady Pioneers were led offensively by Hardaway's 16 points, followed by Lowery's 10-point night.