The NCCAA Central Regional Championships are set to take place at Mission University in Springfield, Mo., on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 10-11. No. 1 seeded Sterling College is set to take on the No. 4 seeded Kansas Christian College at 3 p.m. on Tuesday followed by the No. 2 seeded Southwestern Christian University taking on the No. 3 host school Mission University at 5 p.m. The Championship game will take place on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
Sterling College enters the tournament as the top seed with a record of 17-12. The team is ranked ninth in the NCCAA for points per game, averaging 74, and third in blocked shots with four per game. Key players include McKenna Vogl, who leads the NCCAA with 2.3 blocks per game, and Karlee Jacobs, ranked third in steals with 3.6 per game. Bailey Young contributes significantly on the boards, ranking seventh with 9.4 rebounds per game, while Kali Briar is tenth in scoring with 17.7 points per game.
Southwestern Christian University holds the second seed with a record of 11-15. The team is seventh in the NCCAA for blocked shots, averaging 3.23 per game, and sixth in turnover margin, forcing 4.5 more turnovers than their opponents. Jayden Mason is a standout player, ranking eighth in the NCCAA with 2.6 steals per game.
**Mission University (No. 3 Seed)**
Host team Mission University is seeded third and carries a 14-16 record into the tournament. They are ranked 11th in the NCCAA for points per game, with an average of 71. Ireland Jones leads the team, ranking third in the NCCAA in scoring with 21 points per game and third in assists with 4.8 per game. Jones, along with Miya Nieto, contributes significantly to the team’s three-point shooting, ranking sixth and seventh in three-point field goals per game with 2.9 and 2.5, respectively.
Kansas Christian College rounds out the tournament as the fourth seed with an 8-14 record. The team excels in defensive efforts, ranking sixth in opponents’ field goal percentage at 25.7% and 11th in offensive rebounds with 14.1 per game. Hayley Diveley leads the NCCAA in scoring, averaging 23 points per game, while Brittany Cato is a key rebounder, ranking sixth with 9.4 rebounds per game.
Sterling College’s head coach Evan Belk is excited to see how his team will compete after the rest and recovery they’ve had over the past weeks. The Lady Warriors have great intensity in practice leading up to the tournament and he’s looking forward to making a run in March.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to compete. Anytime you get to play in March is a blessing. There are tough programs that are competing for a chance to make the NCCAA National Championship Tournament, we are excited to go and compete,” Belk said.
For those unable to attend in person, the games will be live-streamed HERE.
This tournament promises exciting match-ups as the teams vie for a spot in the NCCAA National Championship Tournament.
Be sure to check for news and updates on Sterling Warrior Athletics on Facebook (/SCWarriors), Twitter (@SterlingCSports), and Instagram (sterlingcsports), as well as the hashtag #SwordsUp. Watch the Warriors’ live home events on the Sterling College Sports Network.
