JOPLIN, Mo. – The Dallas Christian College women's basketball team competed a week ago in the Association of Christian College Athletics (ACCA) Tournament hosted by Ozark Christian College. The Crusaders opened the first round of the bracket on Tuesday, March 2 with a 69-62 victory over the host school. DCC cooled off with tough setbacks to Arlington Baptist University, who ousted the Crusaders less than a week ago at the Southwest Regional Championship game, and Baptist Bible.

In the triumph, Keiarra Rivers scored the first six DCC points but the team trailed 11-6  through the first five minutes. Down as many as six, the Crusaders closed the gap to 17-14 on a Taylor Brokenberry layup with 10 seconds at the end of the quarter.

The second quarter was a continual back-and-forth as the Crusaders evened the gap a few occasions, but were down 35-26 at halftime. They rallied to start the new half with seven straight points as Shabaria Walters completed the old fashioned three-point play. Walters had a free throw after splitting at the line to push DCC up one, but it was a 50-47 edge that Ozark Christian had heading to the last quarter.

Walters and Brokenberry scored consecutive possessions to lift DCC back in front a pair. With 3:49 left, Leia Twine buried a three-pointer to break a tie a final time at 61-58. After Ozark Christian pulled within a point, Walter hit a layup two minutes after Twine's triple to make it a three-point difference. Brokenberry was fouled after DCC forced a turnover. The native of Irving, Texas, was good from both attempts at the line. Walter split at the line on her last two trips, but the Ambassadors never got closer than four (66-62). OCC turned the ball over on the next two attempts to reduce the margin.

Rivers stood out with a double-double of 25 points and 11 rebounds. She added two steals and a blocked shot. Walter contributed 18 points, and Brokenberry added 12 from the bench. DCC benefited from 29 turnovers and had a 27-13 advantage on points off turnovers. DCC also swiped 11 steals from the miscues. The Crusaders were dismal from three-point shooting as Twine hit the lone attempt in her game-changing shot. They also overcame 14-for-30 free throw shooting. DCC totaled 44 points in the paint compared to OCC's 20.

In the game versus Arlington Baptist, Mckayla Washington was the top scorer with 13 points and dished four assists. Crystal Eureste and Walter each had nine points and combined for 14 rebounds.

The third place game against Baptist Bible with Walter leading with 14 points and eight rebounds. Avery Roberts notched a double-double in her final game with 10 points and rebounds.  

Head Coach Larry Tidwell in his first season guided the Crusaders to a winning record of 15-10 that included 11-10 versus NCCAA opponents. The squad won 11-of-13 games on their home court, including a pair of upsets on the sixth ranked national team and second ranked national team in overtime. The Crusaders also held a slim lead over the top nationally ranked opponent in the regional title game before the momentum overwhelmed the Cinderella team. The Crusaders also would finish 9-2 in the month of February.