OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Dallas Christian College women's basketball team was edged, 83-62, by top-seeded Ozark Christian College on Friday afternoon in the semifinal round of the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association (NCCAA) Southwest Regional. The Crusaders trailed by 10 after one quarter and were trying to just stay in the game the rest of the way, as a hot shooting Ambassadors team was in control most of the day after having a first-round bye.
In a battle between No. 8 DCC and No. 3 Ozark Christian in the Top 10 rankings, the Crusaders were unable to repeat last year's tournament run with another trip to the championship game. The Ambassadors shot 42 percent overall from the field, which included 44 percent in the first quarter and 50 percent in the second. The team made 10 three-pointers, with five in the third quarter, which helped all but eliminate a comeback threat as the Ambassadors outscored DCC, 21-12, in the 10 minutes.
Amber Covington was the lone Crusader in double-digits with 15 points. She was 5-for-7 at the free throw line and grabbed six rebounds.
Keiarra Rivers added eight points and boards, which ended up as a team-best. The Crusaders slumped to get rebounds by being outdone 55-32. That is something uncharacteristic of a DCC team that has outrebounded team's 1,264 to 1,163 and averages 48.6 per game.
A big part of that was Kamryn Gentry with a near 20-point and 20-rebound double-double. She did eclipse 20 points for a game-high and had 19 boards to also lead all players. She was perfect shooting from the floor with six shots and also had an 8-for-10 effort at the free throw line. Makenzie Purinton chipped in18 points. The Ambassadors also shared the ball well with 23 assists.
Other noticeable categories, that Ozark Christian did well in were points off turnovers (29-8) and second chance points (22-6). DCC did keep up well with points in the paint at 34-28 and the teams were even at nine on fastbreak points.
DCC did have 30 bench points, with Ki'Onna Hilliard scored eight in six minutes.
Naiya Brown added seven. The Crusaders were able to play all 15 players that traveled at least six minutes.
Second-year head coach
Larry Tidwell has built a program to finish with consecutive winning seasons, with the first last year happening for the first time since 2004-05. The team posted a 23-9 record, which is the most wins in program history. DCC held a top 10 power ranking in all polls this season, including a spot as high as four. That was thanks to a 7-0 start for the Crusaders and winning 10-of-11 to start the campaign. Both are arguably best starts to program history.
An Achilles heel for the Crusaders was being able to defeat teams ahead of them in the top 10 power rankings. The Crusaders moved to 0-7 versus teams ranked above them at this juncture of the season, which include: Champion Christian College, Arlington Baptist University, and Ozark Christian, who prevailed a third time this season.
DCC was able to defeat Randall University in the DCC Thanksgiving Classic, who was ranked at that time, but the team was unable to complete its season with the Crusaders earning a pair of forfeits.
The previous three seasons for the NCCAA to have a regional tournament, the Crusaders have won the first round of games.
Ozark Christian, who are the host school of the NCCAA National Tournament earned an at-large bid after falling to Champion Christian in the Championship Game. Arlington Baptist was the third team out of the region to qualify with a second of the three at-large bids.
Dallas Christian discovered on Sunday it did not qualify for the National Tournament in two weeks. However, DCC will turn its attention to the Association of Christian College Athletics (ACCA) that starts the women's games on Wednesday, March 2. The games will be hosted at Ozark Christian in Joplin, Missouri.
"Dallas Christian educates and mentors students to be people of influence engaging in their calling to the work of Christ in the church and in the world."
