LEAD

ANKENY, Iowa -- With a determined 78-64 win over Calvary University in the NCCAA North Region Championship, the Sabercats are bound for NCCAA Nationals for the third year in a row.

Emily Johnson scored 25 points and Callie Morrison had 24. With the win, Maranatha captures its 10th women's basketball regional championship since 2010 and qualifies for the NCCAA DII National Tournament held in Joplin, Missouri March 11-13.

OVERVIEW

• Result: #1 Maranatha 78-64 #2 Calvary
• Venue: Nettleton Center, Faith Baptist Bible College
• Event: NCCAA North Region Championship
• Location: Ankeny, Iowa
• Attendance: 85
• Records: MBU (10-8), CU (11-10)

STORY

Maranatha was decidedly average in the first half. They took relative care of the ball and had a marginal shooting performance, but they would rely on 10 points from the line to stay tied at 39 entering halftime. Jacklyn Simpson was in a rhythm early on, but collectively, the Sabercats didn't look too threatening.

Morrison (14 points) and Emily Johnson (11 points) were leading the way for Maranatha in the first half, and Calvary's Taylor Hunter and Anna Holloway were running the show with 16 points apiece.

The second half looked brighter for Maranatha, as their defense limited Calvary to just nine points in the third quarter. Johnson and Morrison continued to run the show as Maranatha built a slight lead into the fourth quarter. A key moment came with just seconds left in the third quarter when a big defensive play from Morrison was followed up by a three from Johnson. Just like that, Maranatha had an 11-point lead going into the final quarter.

Johnson took her performance from good to great in the fourth, knocking down a career-high seven three-pointers - just one away from tying the all-time program record. As the win became inevitable, Coach Clayton Morrison went deep into the bench to make it a total team win, and the Sabercats cruised to their third consecutive regional title and subsequent berth at the National Tournament.

❄️ NORTH REGION CHAMPIONS ��

We beat ⚔️ Calvary 78-64 for our third consecutive North Region crown!

Nationals, we're coming back ‼️❄️�� pic.twitter.com/MJGT2bcGXl

— Maranatha Athletics (@MBUSabercats) February 27, 2021

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Maranatha Starters: 3- C. Morrison, 4- Johnson, 5- Hansel, 25- K. Morrison, 32- Simpson // Calvary Starters: 1- Hunter, 11- Kornstad, 12- Veltkamp, 20- Holloway, 34- Faulkner

STATS

• Johnson: 25 PTS, 3 REB, 2 STL
• Johnson: hit a career-high 7 three-pointers
• Morrison: 23 PTS, 10 REB, 4 AST, 4 STL
• Simpson: 18 PTS, 7 REB
• Claire Hansel: 6 PTS, 14 REB 
• Hunter: led everyone with 35 points
• Last time: The Sabercats won 58-47 at regionals last year
• Series: Maranatha now leads the all-time series 2-0

OPPONENTS

• Calvary competes in the Midwest Christian College Conference and the North Region
• Calvary beat #7 Oak Hills and #3 Central to advance to the Championship

NEXT

With the win, Maranatha advances to the NCCAA DII National Tournament, March 11-13 in Joplin, Missouri. Find details at mbusabercats.com/schedule.