ASHLAND, Ore. - The Carroll College Women's Basketball team saw their 2024-25 season come to an unfortunate close on Friday evening, falling 72-63 in the First Round of the NAIA Women's Basketball Championship to Wayland Baptist (Texas) at the Lithia Motors Pavilion.

The (10) Fighting Saints (19-12, 10-5) saw their trio of All-Conference guards put together one of their best performances of the season, but were outdone by a remarkable individual performance from (7) Wayland Baptist's (25-4, 21-4) Megan Nestor.

The opening quarter was Carroll's most explosive offensive frame of the season against NAIA competition. The Saints shot 60 percent from the floor in the first 10 minutes, including a perfect 4-4 effort from Frontier Conference Player of the Year Kyndall Keller (Havre, Mont. / R-SR). Keller's outstanding shooting effort coming off the heels of a quiet Frontier Tournament saw her score 11 points in the frame. Addi Ekstrom (Bozeman, Mont. / SR) and Willa Albrecht (Billings, Mont. / R-JR) matched Keller's effort, with a combined 11 points to help give the Saints a 26-16 lead after one.

Carroll's hot start continued into the second quarter, with Albrecht and Ekstrom combining for another 11 points, and the team ending the half shooting 50 percent from the floor. SAC Player of the Year, Megan Nestor, was simply dominant in the frame, however, as the '23-24 Third Team All-American added 10 points and three boards to her impressive total to help the Flying Queens cut into the Carroll lead heading into the break, 43-39.

Nestor, the six-foot, four-inch post was a force in the opening half, nearing a double-double with 20 points and nine rebounds in the first 20 minutes.

Coming out of the half, Nestor picked up her third foul of the game, and was sent to the bench for the majority of the third quarter. The Saints again shot 50 percent from the floor, with Keller adding eight more points to her tally and Ekstrom adding five, but Carroll couldn't create much separation while the Queens' best player was sidelined. A late barrage of points from Keller helped Carroll jump in front at the end of the frame, and the Saints would head into the fourth with a 58-51 advantage.

Nestor came back into the game at the start of the fourth, and again made an immediate impact. The junior went 6-8 from the floor, scoring 13 points and pulling down five additional boards to help lead a comeback from the Queens. The Saints struggled from the floor in the final frame, as Keller's two made shots were the only field goals of the quarter. The Queens pulled in front with seven minutes remaining, and held off any Carroll attempt at a comeback to close the door on a 72-63 opening round win.

Keller led the Saints with 26 points, three assists, two rebounds, two steals and a block in her final game in the Purple and Gold. Ekstrom, the lone other senior on the roster also had a great night, going 6-7 from the floor including a 5-5 effort from three-point range for 17 points with four rebounds. Albrecht was the only other Saint to score in double figures, adding 12 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.

Nestor led the Queens with a remarkable 17-20 effort from the floor, scoring a game-high 35 points, while pulling down 19 rebounds.

The First Round loss marks the first time since 2020-21 that the Saints have not advanced to the Second Round.

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