MONTGOMERY, Ala. – No. 4 seed William Carey defeated No. 3 seed UT Southern 62-58 to win the 2026 SSAC Women’s Basketball Championship Saturday. It is the first SSAC tournament title for the WCU women’s basketball program.
 
The Crusaders and SSAC Regular Season Champion Loyola receive automatic bids to the 2026 NAIA National Championship First & Second Rounds. The other SSAC teams will await word on possible at-large bids.
 
Individual Leaders

• Madelyn Ladner led the Crusaders with 16 points and six boards, knocking down 8-of-10 FT’s and Jenna Garriga finished with 12 points
• UT Southern got 22 points and six boards from Silkiari Vazquez-Troche and 15 points and 10 rebounds from Ashley Dickey

 
Inside The Box Score

• WCU held the FIrehawks to 29% shooting from the field and won the rebounding battle 45-36
• The teams combined to hit only 2-of-31 from 3-point range
• They combined for 57 trips to the FT line, converting 20+ each

 
More Info If You Want It

• The game started off with a 7-7 first period, but picked up from there
• UTS held a one-point edge after three periods and scored the first four points of the final period to lead 47-42 with 8:01 to go
• Trailing 51-48 with 5:38 left, the Crusaders 7-0 spurt over the next 3:10, capped by five-straight points from Ladner
• UTS’ Emma Bryan tied it at 56-56 with 1:27 to go on a FT, but the Crusaders scored the next four and only gave up two points the rest of the way