W.E. Dowell Fieldhouse – Neutral Site, March 11, 2026 — Mission University's Lady Patriots dropped a hard-fought 79-72 decision to Sterling College in the NCCAA Central Regional Championship.
Pregame
Mission entered the championship game as the No. 3 seed in the tournament with a 15-16 overall record after advancing through the semifinal round. Sterling came in as the tournament's top seed at 19-12 overall.
The championship matchup at W.E. Dowell Fieldhouse determined the Central Regional champion, with the winner earning a berth to the NCCAA National Tournament.
Game Summary
Mission and Sterling traded early possessions to open the game before Sterling hit the first three-pointer of the night. The Lady Patriots quickly responded, getting baskets from Naomi Daugherty and Ireland Jones to stay within striking distance. Miya Nieto knocked down a three-pointer midway through the quarter to tie the game, and Jayla Kirksey added several key baskets inside as Mission built momentum.
Jones later connected on another three to extend the lead, while Kirksey finished strong around the basket in the final minute to help Mission close the first quarter ahead 19-17.
The Lady Patriots continued that momentum early in the second quarter. Nieto opened the period with a three-pointer and Kirksey added a layup off a Tara Masten assist, pushing Mission's lead to seven points. However, Sterling responded with a strong run midway through the quarter, hitting multiple three-pointers and converting second-chance opportunities to take the lead.
Mission stayed within reach as Jones converted free throws following a technical foul and Kirksey added another late basket. Despite the push, Sterling carried a 41-36 advantage into halftime.
Sterling extended its lead during the third quarter, using perimeter shooting and interior scoring to create separation. Mission struggled to find consistent offense early in the period, but a three-pointer from Masten and a pair of late threes from Jones helped trim the deficit. Sterling still held a 63-51 lead entering the fourth.
The Lady Patriots mounted a determined comeback in the final quarter. Jones continued to lead the offense with multiple baskets down the stretch, while Daugherty added a key three-point play and Kirksey provided strong work on the boards.
Mission closed the gap to four points in the final minute when Jones drilled a three-pointer to make it 75-71. Sterling answered with a late basket and free throws in the closing seconds to secure the 79-72 victory.
Stat Leaders
Mission
Ireland Jones — 27 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 three-pointers
Jayla Kirksey — 18 points, 15 rebounds
Miya Nieto — 11 points, 3 steals
Tara Masten — 8 points, 7 assists
Naomi Daugherty — 8 points, 5 rebounds
Postgame
Mission finished the NCCAA Central Regional Tournament with a strong showing, advancing to the championship game after a semifinal victory. The Lady Patriots remained competitive throughout the title matchup and mounted a late push in the fourth quarter behind Jones' scoring and Kirksey's presence on the boards.
Despite the loss, Mission demonstrated resilience throughout the tournament, battling the top-seeded team into the final minutes of the championship contest.
With the regional tournament complete, the Lady Patriots now await the possibility of receiving an at-large bid to the NCCAA National Tournament.
Next Up
Mission will now wait to see if it receives an at-large bid to the NCCAA National Tournament, which would extend the Lady Patriots' postseason run.
