SIOUX CITY, Iowa—Just four teams remain active at the Tyson Events Center for the 2022 NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship.
Top overall seed Southeastern will take on the fifth seed from the Cramer Quadrant on Monday night at 7 p.m. Eastern with the winner advancing to Tuesday's championship game against either Thomas More or Central Methodist.
During the national tournament, Southeastern has outrebounded its opponents by an average of 10 per game and have held its opponents to an average of just 58.5 points per game.
Angela Perry has been a big part of that success, leading the team with an average of 15.5 points per game during the tournament and
Rebecca Cook leads the team in rebounding at 7.8 per game.
This is the second appearance for the Fire in the national semifinal. In 2019, the Fire defeated Dakota Wesleyan 78-75 in double overtime to advance to the title game. As a freshman,
Raegan Linster had seven points off the bench in that semifinal game and has averaged 11.5 points per game in this year's tournament.
"It's definitely different in the way you have to prep because you have to treat it like any other game or you will come in way too hyped up and it's harder to focus because everything is on the line in that game," said Linster.
Dordt is making its first appearance in the semifinal round. The Defenders started the season 7-5, but have won 21 of their last 24 games.
"They have size and an incredible post rotation," said coach
Tim Hays. "Just about anything you would want as a coach this time of year, they have demonstrated."
Opponents have shot just 38% from the field and 31.4% from 3-point range. The Defenders also average 5.3 blocks per game.
GPAC Player of the Year Ashyn Veerbeek averages 18.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. The former Nebraska starter has 113 blocks this year and is an 89.9% free throw shooter. Bailey Beckman has added 12.8 points per game with a team-high 61 made 3-pointers.
"At this point in the year, not a lot changes internally," said Hays. "You have to do what you do to the best of your ability, but I think more than anything its just the margin for error. Teams really start to lock in on each other and it's a game of attrition—which team makes the fewest errors."
The game will be carried on
ESPN3.
