WBB
68
Arlington Baptist University ABU 10-12
69
Winner Pensacola Christian College PCC 25-3
Arlington Baptist University ABU
10-12
68
Final
69
Pensacola Christian College PCC
25-3
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Arlington Baptist University ABU 9 26 14 19 68
Pensacola Christian College PCC 10 21 21 17 69

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Braden Mottor

Lady Eagles Advance to the National Semifinals After Narrow Victory over Arlington Baptist

Game Recap:
After earning the No. 1 seed, the Lady Eagles entered the National Tournament as the team to beat, with a target squarely on their backs. Their opening matchup was against Arlington Baptist, one of the hottest teams in the tournament, riding an eight-game winning streak out of their last nine. Arlington had already proven their abilities by defeating the nation's No. 1 team, Ozark Christian, and the No. 2 team, Champion Christian, in their regional tournament.
 
The game started with both teams trading early baskets, neither gaining a clear advantage. Arlington jumped out to a 6-2 lead, but the Lady Eagles quickly responded with an 8-0 run, fueled by sophomore Sky Boyd, who scored six points in that stretch. Arlington drained a three-pointer in the final minute, but the Lady Eagles held a slim 10-9 lead at the first break.
 
Arlington came out strong in the second quarter, going on an 8-0 run in the first three minutes. However, a tough and-one finish by Abigail Winslow put the Lady Eagles back on the board, cutting the deficit to 15-17. The Patriots looked to extend their lead, but the Lady Eagles refused to back down. With clutch shooting from Rachel Phelps, who scored eight points in just three minutes, they stayed within striking distance. In the final moments of the half, veterans Alissa Brewer and Kristin Mentzer combined for six points, but Arlington hit a buzzer-beater to maintain a 35-31 advantage heading into halftime.
 
The Patriots opened the third quarter with back-to-back three-pointers, sparking a 12-6 run that gave them their largest lead of the game at 10 points. But the Lady Eagles answered swiftly—Sky Boyd hit a crucial shot to stop the run, followed by back-to-back threes from Mellany Bowser, igniting an 8-0 run in under a minute. As the game tightened, the Lady Eagles clawed their way back, eventually reclaiming the lead with under two minutes left in the quarter. By the end of the third, they were in front, 52-49, with just 10 minutes standing between them and a spot in the National Semifinals.
 
In the fourth quarter, the Lady Eagles extended their lead to eight points after a free throw by Amy Ahrens. Arlington made a late push, but the Lady Eagles maintained a steady 7-to-9-point cushion until the final minute. However, the Patriots mounted a furious 9-2 run in the last 53 seconds, nearly stealing the win away from the Lady Eagles. With 30 seconds remaining, Sky Boyd came up with a crucial steal, forcing Arlington to foul. The All-American stepped up under pressure, sinking both free throws to secure the win. Arlington managed a layup at the buzzer, but with no opportunity for a three-point attempt, the Lady Eagles held on for a thrilling 69-68 victory.
 
Leading the charge was sophomore All-American Sky Boyd, who delivered a career-high 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season. Junior Rachel Phelps added 11 points and five rebounds in 29 minutes, while freshman Abigail Winslow recorded her second double-double of the year with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Despite shooting just 35% from the field, the Lady Eagles dominated inside, scoring 38 points in the paint and 20 on fast breaks—key factors in their quarterfinal victory.
 
What's Next:
The Lady Eagles have now advanced to the National Semifinals on Friday night! Getting matched up against the winner of Simmons College vs. Great Lakes, the Lady Eagles are set to tipoff tomorrow night at 5:00 PM once again in Minneapolis, MN!
 
To stay updated on the Lady Eagles' postseason, follow @eaglespccwbb on Instagram. For complete coverage of all PCC Eagles teams, events, and schedules, follow @eaglespcc on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.Â