UNIVERSITY PARK, Ill. – No. 4 seed Indiana Northwest saw its bid for a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament title come to an end Friday night, falling 77-67 to top-seeded Governors State in the semifinals at the GSU ARC. The RedHawks will now await the selection of the 2025 NAIA National Tournament field to see if they receive an at-large bid.
Jessica Carrothers delivered another stellar performance for Indiana Northwest (23-7), scoring a game-high 32 points on 14-of-28 shooting while playing all 40 minutes. Tiara Jackson provided a strong presence in the post, finishing with 14 points and six rebounds, while Alyna Santiago added 13 points, including two of the RedHawks' three 3-pointers.
Indiana Northwest started fast, shooting 71% from the field in the first quarter to take a 22-20 lead after 10 minutes. Carrothers scored 10 points in the opening frame, helping the RedHawks establish early momentum. However, Governors State responded in the second quarter, outscoring IUN 21-14 to carry a 41-36 lead into halftime.
The Jaguars (24-5) continued to assert control in the third quarter, using a balanced scoring attack and efficient shooting to extend their lead. Zareia Chevre led the way for Governors State with 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting, while Tabetha Jones recorded 19 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds. Cencere McDaniel added 14 points and nine boards.
Governors State pushed its advantage to as many as 18 late in the third, taking a 61-49 lead into the final period. The RedHawks battled back, cutting the deficit to five early in the fourth quarter, but the Jaguars responded with a crucial 10-2 run to put the game out of reach. Governors State sealed the victory at the free-throw line, converting 12-of-14 attempts in the fourth quarter.
Indiana Northwest finished the game shooting 44% from the field but struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 3-of-16 (18.8%) attempts. The Jaguars held a decisive edge on the glass, outrebounding the RedHawks 43-27, including an 11-7 advantage on the offensive boards that led to 15 second-chance points.
Despite the loss, Indiana Northwest remains in contention for an NAIA National Tournament bid after an impressive 23-win season. The RedHawks will learn their postseason fate when the tournament field is announced next week.
Recap by PJ Katona
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