CONWAY, Ark. -- Junior forward Riley Brady grabbed a single-game tournament record 23 rebounds, to go along with 16 points, and Hendrix College fed off a raucous home crowd in earning a 54-42 victory over Colorado College in the first semifinal of the 2026 SCAC Women's Basketball Tournament Saturday evening at Grove Gymnasium. Official Tournament Website | Photo Gallery | Postgame Interview | Women's Tournament Stats
A three-pointer by Isa Nelson gave Colorado College a 3-2 lead with 7:54 remaining in the first period and that would the first and last lead of the game for the Tigers. The Warriors led by as many as 12 midway through the second quarter, but had to survive a late CC fourth quarter run before finally putting away the Tigers. After two free throws by Nelson cut the Hendrix lead to 37-35 with 8:48 remaining in the game, over the next minute of clock time, the Warriors scored the next six points and led 43-35 with 7:38 left. From there, Colorado College was never able to get closer than five points the rest of the way.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Hendrix took a 25-18 lead into the halftime locker room as both teams struggled from the field, with neither shooting for a high percentage. In the first half, Colorado College was limited to 25.9 percent (7-27) while Hendrix was only modestly better tat 27.8 percent (10-36). Points off turnovers were the difference in the first half as Hendrix converted nine CC turnovers into eight points while Colorado College was unable to convert on seven Warrior turnovers.
- Colorado College was able to cut into the halftime lead, trimming the Warriors' margin to 37-33 after the third period. The Tigers shot 46.7 percent (7-15) during the quarter and held Hendrix to 27.8 percent (5-18) to get back into the game.
- Neither team was efficient from the floor with both teams finishing under 30.0 percent shooting for the game. CC was slightly better, ending the night at 29.3 percent (17-58) while Hendrix finished at 28.8 percent (19-66).
- Hendrix controlled the boards, outrebounding Colorado College, 53-38, which contributed to their 17-9 advantage in second chance points.
HENDRIX COLLEGE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Riley Brady: 16 points, 23 rebounds, 4 steals
- Chloey-Rei Brown: 17 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds
- Brailey Forst: 6 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 assists, 2 steals
COLORADO COLLEGE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Rayna Welsch: 8 points, 8 rebounds
- Kayla Mackel: 7 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
- Isa Nelson: 5 points, 7 rebounds
NOTABLES
- A night after posting the second-most rebounds in a SCAC women's basketball tournament game (21), Brady established the new single-game tournament standard, grabbing 23 rebounds to best the former mark of 22 which was set by Zoe Tomlinson of Colorado College against Trinity in the 2024 championships.
- Saturday's semifinal matchup between Hendrix and Colorado College was the first conference tournament matchup between the two, although the two have been participants in the same SCAC tournament on four prior occasions.
- In its first year back in the SCAC since 2012, Hendrix improved to 7-10 all-time in the SCAC tournament while the Tigers moved to 9-14 in SCAC postseason play.
- Hendrix is back in the SCAC women's final for just the second time in program history. The Warriors advanced to the 2011 championship game before losing to DePauw, 80-71.
- Colorado College falls to 20-6 on the season and will await word of a possible at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship.
UP NEXT
Hendrix (17-10) advances to take on either No. 1B Austin College or No. 2G Texas Lutheran in Sunday's championship game. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT. The winner of that game will receive the SCAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
