Second-seeded TMU Women's Basketball had its historic season end in the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Championship on Saturday, after the Mustangs lost to fifth-seeded Dordt University (Iowa) by a final score of 72-56.
"The outcome obviously wasn't what we were hoping for," Master's Head Coach
Lisa Zamroz said. "Despite the adversity we faced all game with a hometown team in a hometown environment, we were in it with a chance to win in the fourth. Credit to a great Dordt team."
Dordt may be nicknamed the Defenders, but it was their offense that won the game in the final quarter, which Master's led by one entering.
The Defenders outscored the Mustangs 28-11 in the fourth, tied-for-the-most points scored on Master's in a single quarter this season, but with eight of those coming in the final minute with TMU playing the fouling game. Dordt held a 29-10 advantage in free throws attempted for the game.
It required such an offensive onslaught after an impressive display from the Mustangs in a hostile environment.
Tristen Gardner's 3-pointer opened the scoring, as Master's began the game on a 5-0 run, before Dordt's fans got loud in support of the Defenders.
Dordt, located just 47 miles away from the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa, traveled well and had the backing of a sizable student section, which erupted as the Defenders developed a first-half lead.
Dordt led 15-13 after the opening quarter and extended that to 10 on multiple occasions in the second period with
Stephanie Soares on the bench with two fouls.
Ella Brubaker kept the Mustangs in it with nine points in the quarter, getting TMU to within three.
After the Defenders were able to increase their lead to 31-24 entering halftime, the Mustang offense scored 21 points in the third to overturn its deficit.
Soares, who was held without a field goal attempt in the first half, got going in the third quarter just like she did on Friday night in the Round of 16. She converted a pair of 3-point plays, tying the game with 2:28 remaining in the third.
Brubaker's 3-pointer then gave Master's a lead entering the fourth period – its first advantage since late in the first quarter.
Dordt opened the final stanza on a 10-4 run to take a five-point lead, but the Mustangs responded with
Giani Wimbish-Gay's stepback 3-pointer and two
Allyson Pettit free throws to tie the game at 54-54 with 4:35 to play.
The Defenders then scored 10-straight points over the next three minutes to pull away from the Mustangs, before sinking 10 free throws in the final 1:24, as the final score did not indicate how tightly-contested of a game it was.
Wimbish-Gay led Master's in scoring with 15 points, while Brubaker also reached double digits with her 12.
The loss brings an end to a historic season for Master's, which set a new program record with 32 wins this season. Along the way, TMU won its fourth-ever Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament title and reached the NAIA quarterfinals for the third time.
"I love this team and am incredibly proud of our year," Zamroz said. "I'm thankful for the seniors and all they've given this team. They've taken us strides forward athletically and carried on the legacy of who we want to be as a program – to pursue Christ as hard as we pursue sport and to compete with our best for the glory of Christ."
