HENDERSON, Tenn. – The Indiana University Northwest women's basketball team saw its remarkable season come to a close Friday night, falling to Florida Memorial, 85-76, in the First Round of the 2025 NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship at the Brewer Sports Center in Henderson, Tennessee.
The RedHawks (23-8) were led by NAIA scoring leader and CCAC Player of the Year Jessica Carrothers, who poured in a game-high 38 points to go along with eight rebounds, four steals, and three assists in a 40-minute effort. Carrothers shot 14-of-22 from the field, 2-of-5 from three-point range, and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line in another standout performance on the national stage.
Senior forward Tiara Jackson added 16 points and nine rebounds, battling in the paint against Florida Memorial's length. Fellow senior Katelyn Halfacre knocked down a pair of threes to finish with 10 points, while senior Alyna Santiago contributed six points, four steals, and two assists while playing 38 minutes.
The RedHawks shot an efficient 50 percent (24-for-48) from the field and 40 percent (6-for-15) from three-point range, but it wasn't enough to overcome a deep Florida Memorial squad that placed four players in double figures.
A tightly contested first quarter ended tied at 15-15 before Florida Memorial (24-4) took control in the second, outscoring IU Northwest 24-12 to carry a 39-27 lead into halftime. The Lions capitalized on second-chance opportunities and used their size to dominate the boards, finishing with a 35-32 rebounding edge and 13 second-chance points.
Despite trailing by as many as 15 midway through the third quarter, IU Northwest mounted a furious comeback, erupting for 27 points in the period behind Carrothers and Jackson to pull within single digits. The RedHawks cut the lead to as few as six in the fourth, but Florida Memorial answered each time to keep IU Northwest at bay.
Alyza Winston led the Lions with 23 points, including two three-pointers and a perfect 3-of-3 at the free throw line. Jada Johnson added 10 points and six rebounds, while Agar Farres Garcia posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Lions also got key contributions from their bench, which outscored IU Northwest's reserves 25-6.
Florida Memorial shot 41.4 percent (29-for-70) from the field and hit six three-pointers, overcoming a slow first quarter with efficient second and fourth quarters to secure the win and advance to the second round.
With the loss, IU Northwest concludes a successful season at 23-8. The RedHawks' run also marks the end of the careers for seniors Tiara Jackson, Katelyn Halfacre, Alyna Santiago, and Lexi Alvarez. Each player made significant contributions to the program, helping lead IU Northwest to its first NAIA National Tournament appearance since 2023.
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