ST. PAUL, Minn.--– The opening round of the 2025-26 UMAC Women’s Basketball Tournament took place on Wednesday night as four teams competed in a pair of semifinal contests. The No. 3 seed UW-Superior and No. 4 North Central won its games to advance to the championship.
 
SEMIFINAL #1: No. 3 UW-Superior def. No. 2 Minnesota Morris 68-59
| Box Score | 

Minnesota Morris took the narrow 17-15 lead after the first quarter which included a last-second three from Grace Perry. UW-Superior used a 21-point second frame to take the 36-27 lead at halftime.

In the third, a layup from the Cougars’ Maddy Grove made it a four-point game (40-36) with 4:41 to play. The Yellowjackets answered with a 16-0 run over the next 4:20 to push the margin to double digits.

Minnesota Morris tallied a 21-point stanza of its own in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough to reclaim the lead.

Three ‘Jackets finished in double digits as Maddie Reott led all players with 20 points. She was just shy of a double double with a team-best nine rebounds.  Abby Johnson had 16 and Charlotte Ferstl scored 12.

Gianna Klarenbeek led the Cougars with 19 points and was a perfect 6-6 at the free throw line. Shelby Mortenson and Grace Perry both had 10 rebounds.

SEMIFINAL #2: No. 4 North Central def. No. 1 Bethany Lutheran 73-64
| Box Score |

The second semifinal came down to the fourth quarter as it was tied 49 all after the third. North Central used a 24-15 final stanza to claim the win and advance to the finals.

The game was tied three times in the fourth quarter which included for the last time at 57-57 with 4:12 to play. The Rams used a 6-0 run over the next two minutes to reclaim the lead for good.

Four for NCU finished in double digits as Brycelyn Brewster had 20 points, Kaye Serapio had 18, Moriah McLendon had 13, and NiNi Davenport tallied 11.

Two Vikings had double digits as Arinn McGee scored 18 and Kaylee Hunter had 13. McGee and Kenadi Arndt both had nine rebounds to co-lead the team.

UP NEXT
UW-Superior and North Central will battle for the UMAC Championship title and the automatic bid to the NCAA DIII national tournament on Saturday, Feb. 28 in Superior, Wis. at 4:30 p.m.

SCHEDULE
Semifinals: Wednesday, February 25
    - 7 p.m. | #4 North Central  def. #1 Bethany Lutheran 73-64
        Box Score
    - 5:30 P.M. | #3 UW-Superior def #2 Minnesota Morris 68-59
        Box Score
Championship: Saturday, Feb. 28
    - 4:30 p.m. | #4 North Central at #3 UW-Superior

TICKETS
• $15 | Adults
• $10 | Seniors
• $10 | College Students
• $10 | Youth (Ages 6-18)
• Free | Ages 5 and Under
• Free | Any UMAC students, faculty, and staff with a valid and current institutional ID.
    • No other passes will be accepted.