Lady Cats Defeat Eastern Oregon in NAIA Opener

College of the Ozarks pulls away late for 82-67 victory

Mar. 14, 2026 at 10:45am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

College of the Ozarks used a strong fourth-quarter surge and a dominant performance from its frontcourt to pull away from Eastern Oregon for an 82-67 win in the NAIA women's basketball opening round game at The World's Only Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota. Zoe Hinze led the Lady Cats with a game-high 27 points and 10 rebounds, while Keara Mattingley and Allyssa Joyner also had double-digit scoring efforts.

Why it matters

The win advances College of the Ozarks to the next round of the NAIA tournament, where they will face Dakota Wesleyan University. The Lady Cats' balanced scoring attack and stifling defense proved too much for Eastern Oregon, who struggled from 3-point range and the free-throw line.

The details

College of the Ozarks led wire-to-wire, opening a 25-17 lead after the first quarter. The Mountaineers trimmed the deficit to 3 points in the second quarter, but a late 3-pointer from Hinze sent the Lady Cats into halftime with a 42-37 advantage. In the second half, College of the Ozarks' perimeter pressure limited Eastern Oregon to just 4-of-30 shooting from 3-point range, helping the Lady Cats maintain control. A 15-2 run in the fourth quarter, capped by a Joyner fastbreak layup, put the game out of reach.

  • The game was played on Friday, March 14, 2026.
  • College of the Ozarks will face Dakota Wesleyan University on Saturday, March 15, 2026 at 3:00 PM.

The players

Zoe Hinze

A standout performer for College of the Ozarks, Hinze scored a game-high 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Keara Mattingley

Mattingley added 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Lady Cats.

Allyssa Joyner

Joyner provided 13 points and 6 rebounds off the bench for College of the Ozarks.

Haylee Johnson

Eastern Oregon's leading scorer, Johnson finished with 18 points and 9 rebounds.

Kali Kast

Kast contributed 12 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists for the Mountaineers.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The winner of the College of the Ozarks vs. Dakota Wesleyan University game on Saturday will advance to the next round of the NAIA tournament.

The takeaway

College of the Ozarks' balanced scoring attack and stifling defense proved too much for Eastern Oregon, as the Lady Cats used a late fourth-quarter surge to pull away for the 82-67 victory and advance in the NAIA tournament.