Mediaboss Marketing

Dexter's Makayla Waldner guards Incarnate Word's Nakiah Bell on Thursday in a Class 4 semifinal game at Mizzou Arena in Columbia. (Photo by David Jenkins, Staff)

Incarnate Word, Napheesa Collier routs Lady Bearcats 66-25

davidj@standard-democrat.com

COLUMBIA -- All season long the Dexter Lady Bearcats basketball team has went by the mantra, "one team, one dream."

On Thursday the Lady Bearcats saw that dream shattered by the nationally ranked, undefeated Incarnate Word Red Knights in impressive fashion 66-25.

"Definitely a tough opponent today," said Dexter head coach Chad Allen. "I think all of us coaches in Class 4 were disappointed to see them come down from Class 5. They are an extremely tough team. They are good at every position."

The Knights came into the game with a 29-0 record and are the 12th ranked team in the nation by USA Today. They average beating their opponents by more than 35 points and knocked off Kirksville 78-26 in the quarterfinal game on Saturday.

Incarnate Word showed they were as impressive as their record in Thursday's semifinal, quickly jumping ahead of the underdog Lady Bearcats 7-0. Dexter senior Brittany Harris hit two free throws for Dexter's first points with 4:50 to play in the first quarter but the Knights scored the final 14 points of the quarter to take a 21-2 lead.

"We always talk about dictating the tone right off the bat, the first three minutes of the game, and I thought we did a really good job of that today," said Incarnate Word head coach Dan Rolfes. "Attacking the basket, getting to the free throw line and then defensively to hold them to two in the first quarter I think that really set the tone of the game."

Allen said he thought nerves played a part in the game for Dexter early as Incarnate Word, playing in their fourth-straight final four, seemed at home on the Mizzou Arena floor.

Read the original:
Word up