Women's Basketball | 03/23/24 | 9:26 AM

SIOUX CITY, Iowa - The Carroll College Women's Basketball team will get a postseason rematch from the 2022-23 season this afternoon as they take on (4) Dakota State (S.D.) in the NAIA Women's Basketball Championship Quarterfinal at 2 p.m.

The Fighting Saints (27-5,14-1) have an opportunity to avenge their tournament-ending loss a year ago, meeting a Trojan team (28-6) that played spoiler in Sioux City last season.

For the first time since 2008, and only the second time in program history, the Saints find themselves as one of eight teams remaining in play for the Red Banner. Their appearance in the Quarterfinal was not without theatrics, as they rallied from a 13-point deficit to overcome a high-powered Loyola (La.) team in overtime just two days ago.

Carroll showed tremendous resiliency, overcoming delayed travel, shaky perimeter shooting, and serious foul trouble in the front court. In the end, Kyndall Keller's (Havre, Mont. / SR) stellar 16 point, 11 rebound double-double helped the Saints power through and into the next round.

Last year's "Cinderella" team, Dakota State has had a similar path to the quarterfinal as 2023. The Trojans knocked off both the Saints and Indiana Wesleyan to advance to the semifinal in '23, and have seen the same two teams this season. On Thursday the Trojans once again upended the top-seeded Wildcats, 76-65.

The Trojans are another high-octane offense, averaging 80.2 points per game (No. 18). They're led by Savannah Walsdorf, a senior forward who averages 16.2 points per game. 

Carroll hopes to counter the Trojans' leader by getting their own outstanding forward rolling in Jamie Pickens (Helena, Mont. / GR), who was sidelined much of Thursday's game with a series of early fouls.

Maddie Geritz (Boise, Idaho / GR) might consider moving to Sioux City upon graduation following a pair of outstanding performances in her last two games played at the Tyson Center. Geritz posted 24 points and eight boards in last year's loss to the Trojans, backed by a 10 point, 14 rebound performance against Loyola earlier this week. Look for Gertiz to continue her hot play at the final site.

Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. (MDT) at the Tyson Events Center. 

The NAIA has made the decision to move all remaining games over to their YouTube Channel HERE, where the game can be streamed free of charge.

For those interested in watching the Saints with a group, consider heading to Simperman 101 on campus and join Carroll Students and Staff at the official watch party.

Catch Voice of the Saints, Nick Dietzen, and Carroll Sports Information Director, Conlan Burk, call the action live on Rewind 94.9 FM or online HERE.

Live stats can be followed along HERE.

Visit www.carrollathletics.com this evening for a full recap of the action, and to stay up to date with everything going on in Carroll Athletics.