Lady Cats Overcome Slow Start and Beat Lewis-Clark State to Advance
SIOUX CITY, Iowa — The No. 3 ranked Bethel Lady Wildcats (28-5), the No. 1 seed in the Duer Quadrant beat No. 4 seed and 17th ranked Lewis Clark State 78-70 Friday in the Final 16 match-up in the 2026 NAIA Women's Basketball Championship presented by Bomgaars and Sterlin The 45th annual championship is taking place at the Tyson Events Center from March 19-24 in Sioux City, Iowa.
After a slow start that saw Bethel shoot just 11.8 percent in the opening quarter, the Lady Cats found their rhythm in the second period. Bethel surged ahead with a 22-point second quarter, taking a 33-28 lead into halftime and never relinquishing control. Down 23-15, the Cats scored 18 unanswered points and led 33-28 at the half.
The third quarter proved decisive, as both teams traded punches, but Bethel's efficiency and rebounding edge helped them outscore Lewis-Clark State 27-25. The Lady Cats then closed the game strong in the fourth, holding off a late push to secure the eight-point win.
Leading the way was Mikee Buchanan, who poured in 25 points on an efficient 11-of-20 shooting performance. Madison Hart delivered a dominant double-double with 20 points and a game-high 15 rebounds, anchoring Bethel's commanding 52-36 advantage on the boards. MJ Simmons added 13 points and five assists, while Micah Hart chipped in 11 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks.
Bethel's presence in the paint proved to be a key difference, outscoring Lewis-Clark State 30-22 inside and adding 12 second-chance points. The Lady Cats also forced 18 turnovers and turned them into key opportunities throughout the contest. Lewis-Clark State was led by Tatum Brager's 20 points, including six three-pointers, while Sitara Byrd added 14 points and 10 rebounds in the losing effort.
Following the game, Head Coach Chris Nelson praised his team's resilience after the slow start. "We didn't panic when shots weren't falling early," Nelson said. "Our effort on the boards and our defense kept us in it, and once we settled in offensively, I thought we really played Bethel basketball. That's the kind of toughness you need this time of year. It's good to get this one. Give LCSC a lot of credit. Every time we would pull away, they came right back."
With the win, Bethel improves to 28-5 and advances deeper into the tournament, continuing an impressive postseason run fueled by toughness, rebounding, and timely scoring.
The Cats will meet No. 2 seed and No. 9 nationally ranked Dakota Wesleyan at 6 p.m. Saturday in the quarterfinals.
Photo courtesy of Slone Media: https://www.facebook.com/emmettslone.media
Watch:
https://urbanedgenetwork.net/?school=naia-championships
Stats:
https://bethel.prestosports.com/sports/wbkb/2025-26/boxscores/20260320_zaay.xml