No. 7 Seed ONU To Meet Top-Seeded IUSB For Women’s Basketball Tourney Title
CHICAGO — No. 7 Olivet Nazarene University pulled off its second upset of the 2024 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament on Thursday night and top-seeded Indiana University South Bend rolled along to set up Saturday’s championship contest.
ONU edged No. 6-seeded Holy Cross College 73-72 in overtime for its sixth consecutive win, while Indiana South Bend scored a 77-66 victory against Indiana University Northwest. Olivet Nazarene (16-14) now heads to South Bend to face the Titans (29-1) at 12 pm Central time on Saturday. In their lone meeting during the regular season, IUSB got by the Tigers 84-81 on Feb. 21.
An Olivet Nazarene win on Saturday advances the Tigers to the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round via the league’s second automatic bid, while a victory by IUSB gives the Titan program back-to-back regular-season and tournament crowns. It also extends Governors State University’s season with the second conference bid by virtue of finishing second during the regular season.
Recapping Thursday:
Indiana South Bend 77, Indiana Northwest 66
Indiana South Bend won the game at the free-throw line, where the Titans hit 22-of-29 attempts compared with just 5-of-6 for Indiana Northwest. The latter registered four more field goals (27-23) than the host, but were also outrebounded 48-34. Indiana South Bend turned in a balanced attack with four players totaling between 16-18 points and 6-10 rebounds. Maddie Gard paced the offense with 18 points. IUNW’s Jessica Carrothers led all scorers with 22 markers. IUSB led the tight contest for much of the game. Indiana Northwest got within five points at both the 7:05 and 1:07 marks of the fourth quarter, but could get no closer.
Olivet Nazarene 73, Holy Cross 72
Olivet Nazarene rallied to score the final five points in overtime to advance to the title game. Holy Cross trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half, but Grace Adams forced overtime with her jump shot with 23 seconds remaining in regulation. Olivet Nazarene had a chance to win the game in regulation, but missed on a jump shot with one second to play. Holy Cross had the same opportunity in overtime, but came up empty at the buzzer. Khendel Rolison, who sank the go-ahead free throw with nine seconds remaining, led all scorers with 18 points. Adams had a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds) for Holy Cross with Kayliana Hammel also netting 15 points.
The results and updated schedule follow:
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Game #1: No. 1 seed Indiana South Bend 77, No. 8 Seed St. Francis 60
Game #2: No. 5 seed Indiana Northwest 57, No. 4 seed Roosevelt 54
Game #3: No. 7 seed Olivet Nazarene 83, No. 2 seed Governors State 74
Game #4: No. 6 seed Holy Cross 87, No. 3 seed Saint Xavier 78
Thursday, February 29, 2024 (at site of highest remaining seed)
Game #5: No. 1 Seed Indiana South Bend 77, No. 5 Seed Indiana Northwest 66
Game #6: No. 7 Seed Olivet Nazarene 73, No. 6 Seed Holy Cross 72
Saturday, March 2, 2024 (at site of highest remaining seed)
Game #7: No. 7 Seed Olivet Nazarene (16-14) at No. 1 Seed Indiana South Bend (29-1) — 12 pm CT