TIGERS DEFEATED IN OPENING ROUND OF NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Sioux City, Ia. – The Tigers season comes to an end with this loss to Indiana Tech at the NAIA National Championship. With defense taking precedent in this game, neither team was able to score easily to open up the game. A layup by Kennedy Johnson (SO/Romulus, Mich.), coming two minutes after the tip would open up the scoring for the Tigers, and tie the game at two. Later in the quarter, Sammy Stejskal (SR/Arlington Heights, Ill.) would steal possession and make a quick bucket to put the Tigers within one point. Then to end the first quarter, Kennedy Johnson would get a steal of her own and turn it into a basket to go into the second quarter facing an 18-13 deficit.

Indiana Tech would lead by as much as nine points in the second quarter, but a clutch three-pointer by Maggie Cora (FR/Lizton, Ind.) would get the Tigers back within three. Keeping the game within reach, Kayla Ross (SR/Elgin, Ill.) would make a layup as time was winding down in the half. Due to spotty scoring, the Tigers would go into halftime down 39-31.

In classic ONU fashion, the team would come out of halftime with great energy. Big shots by Sammy Stejskal and Zanna Myers (SO/Monticello, Ill.) would chip away at the Tech lead, but a surge at the end of the quarter would put the Tigers in a 12-point hole.

The Tigers pressed to get back in the game. Katie Settingsgaard (SR/Oak Creek, Wis.) would make an early three-pointer to bring the deficit within eight points. Every time the Tigers had a big play, it seemed like Tech would have an answer. Sammy Stejskal and Kennedy Johnson would lead the way for the Tigers, with 23 and 14 points respectively, but ultimately the Tigers would run out of time.

GAME VITALS

Score: Olivet Nazarene – 73 | Indiana Tech – 88

Records: Olivet Nazarene – 22-10 | Indiana Tech – 30-4

Location: Sioux City, Iowa | NAIA National Championship

STAT TRACKER

• Sammy Stejskal: 23 points, two rebounds, four steals, one block
• Kennedy Johnson: 14 points, two rebounds, three assists, one steal
• Karina Smits (SO/Pewaukee, Wis.): nine points, two rebounds, one steal, one block
• Kayla Ross: six points, five rebounds, three assists, one steal
• Caroline Boehne (SO/Hoffman, Ill.): two points, nine rebounds, one steal