Either Southern Nazarene University or Wheeling University will win its first-ever national championship December 7 in Houston, TX, as the Crimson Storm and Cardinals have punched their tickets to the final.
Southern Nazarene ran past Purdue in Friday’s quarterfinal, 55-7, before defeating Northern Iowa, 62-17, to win the West Region in Kansas City, MO. The Crimson Storm wasted no time in getting on top of the Boilermakers, racing out to a 43-0 halftime lead.
All-American Telesi Uhatafe was her outstanding self all weekend, scoring several flashy tries, but the Southern Nazarene forward pack was a dominant unit. Hooker Lauren Anderson ripped off numerous powerful runs, as did lock Elsa Lavulavu and No. 8 Palu Sau.
Northern Iowa won its quarterfinal over Colorado, 24-22, by a single conversion. The Buffaloes took the first lead with a try near the quarter mark, and the Panthers answered with successive scores to take a 12-5 lead into halftime. Down two converted tries deep into the second half, Colorado crossed the whitewash twice, but made just one kick, seeing Northern Iowa to the next round.
In the East regional in Obetz, OH, Wheeling defeated Virginia Friday, 31-27, and Northeastern Sunday, 35-19, to reach the final in its inaugural season as a program. The Cardinals dotted down seven tries to the Huskies’ three, with flyhalf Bella Gullatta converting all of them.
Wheeling looked like it would run away with the quarterfinal against Virginia, opening with three-straight scores. But the Cavaliers responded with the same, falling a couple of conversions short at halftime, 19-15. Virginia answered nearly every score in the second half, too, including making it a one-score game in the final five minutes. Reserve flanker Mariah Hurd-Crews earned Wheeling’s team MVP honors for the match, providing energy off the bench.
The Huskies scored the upset of the playoffs, so far, Friday, knocking off two-time defending champion Michigan, who was fresh off a third-straight undefeated Big Ten campaign. The Huskies trailed 21-12, but four consecutive tries – two each from wing Jolene Russo and fullback Kourtney-Bichotte Dunner – drove Northeastern to its first final four appearance.
