BILLINGS, Mont., March 11, 2022- The Battlin' Bears defended home court in the 2022 NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship Opening Round presented by Ballogy. The Rocky women slowed down in the second and third quarters, but controlled the rest of the game to win 63 to 44. The Battlin' Bears are now 27-4, 12-3 on the year.
 
Rocky was led on offense by Kloie Thatcher, who had a game high 23 points, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal. N' Dea Flye added 17 points, 11 rebounds, and four steals, to record her fourteenth double double of the year. The Battlin' Bears shot 31 percent from the field, 26.7 percent from the arc, and 73.1 percent from the line.
 
Reinhardt University (20-14, 115-9) was led by Abi Haynes and Catherine Shope had 12 points apiece. Haynes  had six rebounds and four steals. Shope had five rebounds and five steals. The Eagles shot 28.3 percent from the field, 18.8 percent from deep, and 41.2 percent from the charity stripe.
 
Rocky had 11 points off turnovers to the Eagles' 19 points. Rocky had 12 points in the paint, and Reinhardt had 24 points. Rocky had 14 more rebounds in the contest and held the lead for all but the first 13 seconds.
 
The Battlin' Bears move on to the Opening Round Championship to face Dakota State University tomorrow, Saturday, March 12 at 5 p.m. The game will be on First Interstate Bank Court in the Fortin Education Center. Gates open at 4 p.m.
 
Stats: https://gobattlinbears.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
Stream: https://gobattlinbears.com/watch
Tickets: https://gobattlinbears.com/sports/2022/2/25/Ticketing.aspx