Southsider Voice correspondent
The Marian University women’s basketball team defeated Mount Marty 84-55 in Monday’s semifinals of the NAIA national championship and advanced to play Southern Oregon (33-1) Tuesday night for the title (result unavailable at press time).
Lakan Hasser-Smith scored 21 points for the No. 9 Knights (31-6), and Kelly Kirkhoff had 15 off the bench.
Marian reached the Final Four by defeating No. 1-ranked Morningside 76-69 Saturday.
Senior Laken Hasser-Smith scored a game-high 19 points, and sophomore Kellie Kirkhoff (Roncalli) added 15 points while grabbing four rebounds. Junior Anastacia Kirby chipped in 14 points and had five rebounds. Sophomore Joana Soeiro scored five points and had a game-high 12 assists.
The men’s team from the University of Indianapolis ended its season Saturday when losing to Ferris State 89-87 in an NCAA Division II tournament Midwest semifinal game at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
UIndy senior Jordan Loyd scored a game-high 35 points and nearly carried the Greyhounds to victory. He was joined on the court by fellow seniors Lucus Barker, Joe Retic, Tyler Rambo and Jamel Crocker, all of whom played their last games for the team.
UIndy (21-8) reached the semifinal by upsetting No. 12 Ashland 77-69 Saturday. Loyd and Retic each scored 21 points.