Saturday’s NCCAA Women’s Basketball Championship Game at College of the Ozarks had a heartwarming and unconventional beginning.
Unprecedented Support for a Senior
In a show of solidarity, the game started with an opportunity for Brooklyn Luna, a senior player from Mission University, to complete her collegiate journey with a basket. After suffering a season-ending injury during the semifinal match earlier that week, Luna received a special arrangement from her team and opponents to honor her during the championship game.
The Special Moment
As the game commenced, the Lady Bobcats won the opening tip-off, swiftly moving down the court for an uncontested layup by Abbey Lineville. Shortly after, the Lady Patriots followed suit, passing the ball to Luna, who had carefully navigated to the court with crutches prior to the tip-off. With determination, Luna took two shots before successfully scoring, which tied the game at 2-2. Following this emotional moment, she was substituted, and the championship match progressed in a regular manner.
A Battle on the Court
The Lady Patriots initially took command of the game, surging ahead by nine points in the first quarter. However, the Lady Bobcats regrouped and displayed resilience, ultimately taking control in the later stages of the match to claim a 75-62 victory. This win marked the second NCCAA Championship for the school in just three years.
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