More Than Just Numbers
SIOUX CITY, IA- When the No. 3 Bethel University Lady Wildcats take the floor at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa Friday morning to face No.17 Lewis Clark State in the 44th Annual NAIA Women's Basketball Championship, presented by Sterling and Bomgaars, there will be one senior who will lead her teammates onto the floor at a shot of doing something no one else in program history has ever done before.
When one thinks of those Lady Wildcats before her they are reminded of super stars and super young ladies just like Madison Hart. Many of those have paved the way and left the legacy that allowed Hart and the 2025-26 Bethel Lady Wildcats to follow in their footsteps and the opportunity to win a national title.
Bethel is one of sixteen teams which will put their seasons on the line with hopes of winning the coveted title.
The Lady Wildcats (27-5) are the No. 1 seed in the Duer Quadrant and will face No. 4 seed Lewis -Clark State (28-5) Friday at 11 a.m. Bethel and LCSC met in the big dance back in 2017 in Billings, Montana with Lewis- Clark State winning 69-58. LCSC would advance to the title game before losing to Oklahoma City. It is the only meeting ever between the two programs.
The No. 3 Cats reached the Fab Four last year before falling to eventual national champion Dordt.
It is Bethel's 16th appearance in the national championship.
The No. 17 Warriors will be making their 28th appearance in the championship.
Entering the championship, Hart has 1, 734 career points which places her 3rd on the all-time scoring list as a Lady Wildcat. Hart has 738 career rebounds which is the 6th most in school history. Hart missed 11 games this year with an injury.
A moniker and slogan used during her outstanding high school career at Gibson County High School was, 'You have to Have (Heart) Hart.' That same slogan has been in effect during her four years at Bethel.
Bethel Coach Chris Nelson said, "It has been an absolute pleasure coaching Madison. They simply don't make them like her anymore. She has an old schoolwork ethic mentality and has come to work every day since she has been here. She was injured earlier in the year, and she handled it like a true professional and great teammate. She has never made it about herself and yet she has reached numerous milestones throughout her career. Madison is about winning simply put. It has been an honor to watch her mature and grow into the woman she is. Her impact on our program, teammates and coaches speaks for itself."
So, when the Lady Cats play Friday morning, Bethel fans can be assured they will run onto that court with (Hart) Heart.