No.22 Rocky Mountain (Mont.) defeated (RV) Southern Oregon 83-64 in a 2026 NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship First Round match-up played tonight at the De Witt Gym in Sioux Center, Iowa with Dordt University serving as the host site.
Paige Wasson scored a game-high 25 points and both Isabelle Heggem (20 points, 13 rebounds) and Brenna Linse (24 points, 19 rebounds) recorded double-doubles to lead the Battlin Bears into the second round. Rocky Mountain, making its second consecutive and ninth overall tournament appearance, improves to 21-9 overall and will play No.1 Dordt University on Saturday at 3pm.
Rocky Mountain outscored Southern Oregon 18-8 in the opening quarter as they limited the Raiders to just 18% (3/17) shooting over the first 10 minutes. The Battlin Bears pushed the lead to 38-26 by halftime before Southern Oregon cut the lead down to six early in the third quarter behind the shooting of Bridgette McIntyre, who made six three-pointers for the game en route to a 24-point effort.Â
Rocky Mountain, however, held off the Raiders rally and outscored SOU 20-12 in the final quarter.
Southern Oregon ends the season with a 19-11 record.
By the Numbers:
- Rocky Mountain shot 45% for the game, 26% (6/23) from the arc
- the Battlin Bears held a commanding 55-33 edge on the boards but committed more turnovers (17-12)
- Southern Oregon shot 33% for the game, 29% (11/38) from the arc
- Keeley Wright added 17 points and Eliza DiGiulio scored 11 and pulled down five rebounds
