Lady Wildcats Advance to Elite 8
Posted: Mar 20, 2025

Lady Wildcats Advance to Elite 8

SIOUX CITY, IA- The Bethel Lady Wildcats secured their place in the NAIA Women's National Tournament Elite 8 with a hard-fought 78-70 victory over the Hastings Broncos in Sioux City, IA Thursday. The Lady Cats showcased grit and determination, overcoming a relentless Hastings team to punch their ticket to the next round.

Beginning with the tip-off, Bethel set the tone with strong defensive pressure and a steady offensive the game. Micah Hart led the charge, delivering a stellar performance with 18 points and an impressive 15 rebounds. Madison Hart followed closely behind, adding 16 points and pulling down 16 rebounds, asserting her dominance in the paint.

The game remained tight throughout, with Hastings refusing to back down. Macy Bryant kept the Broncos in contention with her 18-point effort, draining three shots from beyond the arc and making key plays down the stretch. But Bethel's composure at the free-throw line proved crucial, sinking 25 of 32 attempts to keep their lead intact.

A pivotal moment came late in the fourth quarter when MJ Simmons nailed a clutch three-pointer, pushing Bethel's lead to a comfortable margin. From there, the Lady Cats tightened their defense, forcing turnovers and securing crucial rebounds to stifle any hopes of a Hastings comeback.

As the final buzzer sounded, the Bethel bench erupted in celebration, knowing they had earned their spot among the tournament's final eight teams. The Lady Cats now turn their focus to Saturday's matchup, where they will face the winner of Xavier and Southern Oregon at 1 p.m., hoping to continue their inspiring run toward a national title.

Coach Chris Nelson said after the game. "These girls showed tremendous heart and resilience today. They fought for every possession, and that's what got us here. We're proud of what we've accomplished, but we know the job isn't finished." Nelson added," We beat an outstanding team today. Madison and Micah made big play after big play. MJ and Kylie were big off the bench."

Cat Scratches:

  • Mikee Buchanan -14 points, six rebounds
  • Simmons-13 points, six rebounds
  • Bethel won the battle of the boards- 55-49.
  • The Cats held Hastings to 30 percent to 30 percent from the floor

A special thanks to The Victory, 93.7 for broadcasting the game with Dave McCulley and Derrick Hubble. Catch Saturday's game on 93.7 and on The Victory 93.7 app.