Jacob Johnson
Special for ICT
While the scoreboard favored the top seeded Marian Knights on Friday night, for the Haskell Indian Nations University Lady Indians, the final buzzer signified the end of a season defined by grit, growth, and championship DNA.
Entering the NAIA National Tournament as a No. 16 seed up against a powerhouse host, Haskell faced a daunting task. The 96-67 result sends Marian (30-2) to the second round, but for the Lady Indians, the real story is a program on the rise.
Coming off back-to-back Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) titles, Head Coach Adam Strom remained steadfast in his pride for his team’s journey.
“It’s been a year full of milestones. Even with a loss today, there were 12 winners on the court, and that’s the Haskell Fighting Indians Ladies,” Coach Strom said after the game.
Despite facing a suffocating Marian defense, Haskell refused to abandon their identity. When the Lady Indians broke the initial press, their offensive efficiency shone through.
Haskell started off hot from the tipoff, jumping to a very quick 7-0 lead before Marian responded back with a 25 to 8 run to end the first quarter. Both teams stayed consistent in the second quarter, and at halftime Marian led 43 to 32.
Despite only being down 11, the Lady Indians were on their heels.
Up to that point, Haskell was leading in field goal percentage and total rebounds. It looked like Haskell had found a rhythm and could pose an upset but the game was a tale of two halves.
Marian completely took over the game in the second half, capitalizing on Haskell’s 29 turnovers, which they turned into 42 points. By contrast, Marian only committed 12 turnovers that allowed 11 points on those errors. Marian also doubled Haskell’s assist total (23-11) and more than doubled their steals (19-8).
Perhaps the most telling stat was the depth of the Knights’ roster. Marian’s bench outscored Haskell’s reserves 42 to 15, ensuring there was no drop off in intensity when the starters took a breather.
Still, the hustle stats told the story of a Haskell team that never quit matching the Knights on the glass in stretches and fighting for loose balls until the final whistle.
In the end, Haskell outperformed their season averages against Marian’s elite length, shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 35 percent from beyond the arc.
Angela Astorga fights for positioning in Haskell’s first round game of the NAIA Women’s Basketball National Tournament (Photo by Jacob Johnson)
The “Fightin’ Indians” certainly lived up to their name as Haskell’s playmakers consistently found ways to create high quality looks despite the Knights’ relentless defensive pressure.
Angela Astorga powered the Haskell offense with a clinical 18-point performance, missing just one shot (7-of-8) while leading the team with 6 rebounds and 4 steals. Tierzah Penn proved why she’s a focal point for opposing defenses, scoring 14 points and draining three triples, her savvy navigation of the Knights’ closeouts keeping Marian honest. Ona Dauphinais added 12 points, 5 rebounds, and was instrumental in transition, providing 3 assists and steadying the offense during Marian’s biggest scoring runs.
Ona Dauphinais shoot a 3-point shot vs Marian Knights (Photo by Jacob Johnson)
The night was also particularly special for Dauphinais, as she surpassed 2,000 career points, and Tierzah Penn crossed the 1,000 point mark herself.
As the Lady Indians return to Lawrence, Kansas, they do so with heads held high. With back to back CAC banners hanging in the rafters and a core group that has now experienced national tournament pressure, the 2026 season will be remembered as the year Haskell cemented its place as a recurring national contender.
Looking to the future, Strom knows what it will take for his team to make a third consecutive NAIA National Tournament appearance.
“Discipline, toughness and attention to detail are the things we will work on in the offseason to put ourselves in a better position next year,” the coach said.
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